Franchise Notes

Titans Owner Bud Adams on Friday said that the team "will not raise ticket prices for the 2013 season." In Nashville, Jim Wyatt noted a year ago the team "raised ticket prices in the lower bowl at LP Field for the first time in three years, but kept prices unchanged in the stadium’s upper deck." The Titans' average season-ticket price for '13 is "expected to remain among the lowest in the NFL, with tickets ranging from $46 to $92 per game" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/26). Meanwhile, the Texans' average ticket price will go up 9.8% from '12. However, it is anticipated that the Texans again will be in the middle third of the NFL in ticket prices (Texans).

ON THE BLOCK AGAIN? In Ottawa, Bruce Garrioch noted there is "talk" the NHL Panthers "could be for sale ... again." The club is "looking for further capital and judging by" last Thursday's Senators-Panthers game, the team "could certainly use more cash." Season tickets at the BB&T Center are "as low as $7 per game -- and free parking comes with the package" (OTTAWA SUN, 1/27).

PUMP UP THE VOLUME: TNT's Marv Albert following Thursday's Knicks-Celtics game said that he "believes Celtics management pumps in extra noise" at TD Garden. Albert said, "It seems that way, but they say no. There's times when it seems like there is suddenly a bump in the sound. But I really don't want to make a big deal out of it." The Celtics responded to Albert's claim with the following tweet: "Regarding comments on tonight's (broadcast), the Celtics have never used artificial crowd noise" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 1/25).

PULLING OUT THE BIG GUNS: EPL club Arsenal investor Alisher Usmanov said that former player Thierry Henry "is 'pushing him' to complete a buy-out of the club." Usmanov, who owns a 30% stake in the club, said that when he "had the chance to become one of the main shareholders in the club he was prevented to do so by 'certain people preferring to make a profit and create, using me, an outside enemy.'" He is "growing frustrated by being portrayed as a 'pirate' by Arsenal's current ownership," with Stan Kroenke owning two thirds of the club's shares (London TELEGRAPH, 1/28).