Time Warner Cable and Comcast are "nearing a plan to finance SNY’s purchase of four shares in the Mets," worth $80M, according to a source cited by Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. If the deal is "completed, the Mets would appear to have buyers for the 10 shares they are selling." That means they will "have much-needed cash to pay off their substantial debts." But Sandomir notes it would be a "slightly quirky way of doing it." The deal would mean 16% of the Mets "would be owned by SNY," and the Mets’ parent company, Sterling Equities, "owns 70 percent of the network." One of the Mets' other investors is SAC Capital Advisors Founder Steven Cohen, who also is believed to have advanced past the opening round of bidding to purchase the Dodgers. Cohen "was one of the first people asked by [Mets Owners] the Wilpon family to buy a large chunk of the team." An L.A. Times report indicated that he "chose not to buy into the team last year, but now is almost certain to purchase a single share worth $20 million." A source said that Cohen was planning to purchase a share "as a favor to his friend Fred Wilpon." But Sandomir notes if Cohen "beats a crowded field of rivals bidding for the Dodgers, he would have to sell his Mets’ stake." The Wilpons, however, "would be able to use his money until then and have first dibs on buying back the share." MLB would then give the Mets "a reasonable amount of time to find a buyer to replace Cohen" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/3). On Long Island, Steven Marcus cites a source as saying that Cohen "would not necessarily view his investment in the Mets as a step toward a larger piece of ownership if the team moved in that direction" (NEWSDAY, 2/3).

The Nationals Friday will begin a month-long targeted ticketing campaign entitled "Take Back the Park," designed to encourage local fans to attend the club's May 4-6 home series against the Phillies. The Nationals, with the aid of ticketing partner Tickets.com and MLBAM, have launched a microsite at nationals.com/ourpark in which DC-area purchasers beginning Friday will have an advance presale window for tickets to the three games, roughly a month before single-game tickets go on sale to the general public. The effort is designed to create more of a home crowd for the games against the Phillies, which in prior years have been overrun by visiting fans from Philadelphia. During the '10 season opener, which was attended by President Obama and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, thousands of boisterous Phillies fans booed each Nationals player during team introductions. Some of those fans attended in group ticket blocks sold by the Nationals. "We've heard about it, we've seen it, and frankly, I'm sick of it. I'm tired of seeing Phillies fans in our park," said Nationals COO Andrew Feffer. "So we're doing something about it, and are giving our local fans every incentive to come out and see this team." Several local partners, including the Greater Washington Board of Trade, will be co-promoting the presale. The May 6 finale of the series will be nationally televised on ESPN, but Feffer said the ticketing campaign was in the works prior to ESPN finalizing its early-season broadcast schedule. Ticket purchasers in the campaign will have their billing and shipping addresses verified. Those addresses must match and be within the DC Metro area. Existing Nationals season-ticket holders will also have access to the "Take Back the Park" presale at discounted rates.

NFL Panthers QB Cam Newton's record-setting rookie season has set the stage "for a busy off-season team executives anticipate will include strong season-ticket renewal rates and keen interest from sponsors," according to Erik Spanberg of the CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Private Sports Consulting Principal Max Muhleman said, "The Cam Newton renaissance is like starting over. ... The timing seems uniquely opportunistic. That's what you look for when you recruit sponsors: new energy." Spanberg reports the Panthers' "first priority is negotiating its next cola contract," as its two-year deal with Pepsi expired after the '11 season. Pepsico and Coca-Cola reps could not be reached for comment, but Red Moon Marketing President Jim Bailey, a "frequent consultant to the local Coke bottler, says Coke is 'very serious' in its interest in the Panthers." Coca-Cola had a deal with the team from '95-'02. Meanwhile, the Panthers by the middle of February will send out season-ticket renewals. Panthers President Danny Morrison said that the team "elected to start a month earlier to provide ticket-buyers with an extended five-month payment plan." Spanberg notes other recent additions include "tweaks to the team logo, the launch of a mobile app that includes special features accessible only in the stadium and greater emphasis on social media" (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/3 issue).

CAM MAKES HIS PITCHES: Newton is making the media rounds in Indianapolis this week to promote Under Armour and his recently announced sponsorship deal with Gatorade. Newton, who ranked eighth on THE DAILY's list of the most marketable NFL players, appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” Thursday and talked about his Under Armour UA Highlights cleats. Newton said it is an “unbelievable shoe” and when “people first look at it, they look at it and say, ‘Man, it looks like a boxing shoe or a wrestling shoe.’" Newton: "As football players, so many people spat, and what spat is they get a cleat and they tape over it. This type of technology with this shoe, it just takes away the want for spat. When you look at it from afar you would think it’s a heavy shoe. It’s very light, very comfortable and when you get it on it just sucks your foot in and makes it as if it’s part of your body” (“The Dan Patrick Show,” 2/2). Newton Thursday also appeared on Jim Rome’s radio show and he said of his Gatorade deal, “It does not suck. Here I am getting paid to do something that I want to do.” Newton said Gatorade is teaching him “things that I didn’t even think to take serious,” because “you have to take care of your body” (“The Jim Rome Show,” 2/2).