Hornets President Hugh Weber on Thursday said that "now that the team has surpassed the 10,000-season ticket mark, it could have a new owner in the next 60 to 100 days." Weber said, "Whether the group comes from this zip code or another, the transaction will be done making sure the team is here for the long haul." In New Orleans, Jimmy Smith notes, "Optimally, the Hornets will simultaneously announce a new owner or ownership group and a new lease agreement with the State of Louisiana, one that the team has stated emphatically will not have any escape clauses" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 12/9).
HOT STOCK: The Packers said that they "sold 185,000 of an allotted 250,000 shares of team ownership in two days of a sale scheduled to end Feb. 29." Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy on Thursday "did not commit to making more shares available." He said, "At this point, we are going to wait and see how it plays out. We'll make a decision at the appropriate time." In Green Bay, Richard Ryman notes the "number of shares sold and the proceeds, more than $46 million, exceeded the totals for each category during the 1997-98 sale, the last held by the team" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 12/9).
DYNAMIC CHANGE: The Wizards announced that when single-game tickets go on sale next Wednesday, there "will be a one week waiver of so-called 'convenience fees.'" The team also announced that it will introduce dynamic pricing. The club said that "people who buy seats early will get the best value, and that single-game prices 'may fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including league standings, opposing team, rivalries, star players, day of the week and supply and demand'" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/8).
READY FOR LIFTOFF: In Houston, Jerome Solomon notes the Astros Thursday introduced former Cardinals Dir of Player Procurement Jeff Luhnow as the team's 12th GM. Astros CEO George Postolos "was floored when after their initial conversation to set up a trip to Houston, Luhnow told him he would like to send him some information." Luhnow "sent Postolos a bound 25-page workup of his plan for running the Astros" (CHRON.com, 12/8).
