Broncos Exec VP/Football Operations John Elway on Thursday said of the team's tumultuous offseason, "When you have an organization of this size, some people are going to make mistakes. My feeling is face the problems, hopefully get the problem fixed. You want to be human about this, but also make sure people understand this is not what we're about." In Denver, Mike Klis notes initially, Elway said that he would "at least temporarily ... look outside team headquarters to fill the roles" of Pro Personnel Dir Tom Heckert and Player Personnel Dir Matt Russell, who were suspended for DUI charges. But after more thought, Elway said that their responsibilities "would be divvied up in-house" (DENVER POST, 7/26).
JAZZ CLUB: In Salt Lake City, Bill Oram writes the NBA is "moving toward a day when every NBA team has its own affiliate ... but it remains unclear how the Jazz will get there." Jazz President Randy Rigby has "expressed an interest in putting an expansion team" in St. George, Utah. What is "clear at this point, however, is not only that the D-League model is evolving rapidly, but that teams like the Jazz are at a competitive disadvantage." While ideas within the organization differ, Rigby said that the Jazz are "less likely to buy a team outright." Rigby: "The cost is expensive to buy the ownership of the team right now. As we’ve seen the models, it’s a break-even to maybe a losing half a million dollars" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/26).
TICKET MACHINE: In Cincinnati, Steve Watkins noted the Reds’ new dynamic-pricing plan is "already paying off." Dynamic ticket pricing firm Qcue CEO Barry Kahn said that the team’s revenue has "climbed as a result of the plan." He said that the Reds have "adjusted prices for almost every game." A lot of changes "start about two weeks before a game, when officials have a handle on what demand is like" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/25).
