In N.Y., Josh Kosman notes Devils co-Owner Jeff Vanderbeek is "months late on an $80 million debt payment to lenders and is looking for a balance-sheet miracle -- that is, the securitization of its long-term TV deal with the MSG Network, a move that Vanderbeek hopes will raise exactly that much cash." But sources said that it "appears the money-losing franchise, which has been shopping the deal with the help of Goldman Sachs since at least November, is having trouble getting the deal done." The sources added that it will be "hard for Vanderbeek ... to get the deal done by the end of the month." Sources said that that date is key because it "serves as an unofficial deadline set by the NHL to resolve the potentially-crushing fiscal problem." An NHL spokesperson said that it would be "inaccurate to say that it has given Vanderbeek an ultimatum." A Devils Arena Entertainment spokesperson said, "The facts in this story are wrong" (N.Y. POST, 1/13).
PRICE HIKE: In Ft. Worth, Randy Galloway noted when the MLB Rangers announced the price of tickets for the '12 season, a "strong percentage hike came in the area of the ballpark's lower-bowl seating, which is the area of most ticket demand, and the highest-priced tickets." Galloway wrote beyond the "latest winning spree, here's what the Rangers have going for them when a ticket hike is announced: By rank in MLB, it's still one of the cheapest tickets, on average, in the game, slotted into the middle of the 30-team pack for 2012." The price hike, "based on hitting the three-million mark in attendance, will increase revenue by some $9 million, maybe $10 million." That money "goes back into ballpark upgrades, not in the hip pocket of the owners" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/12).
APPEALING TO OTHER FANS: In DC, Dan Steinberg noted the Ravens have "explicitly appealed to Redskins fans as an AFC alternative in recent years, and the effort continued this week" ahead of the team's Divisional playoff game against the Texans. Ravens QB Joe Flacco said, "As many Redskins fans as we could steal that would be huge for us because they have a great following from what I understand." Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, "We want to be (Redskins fans’s) AFC team, that's all we're asking" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/12).
