In L.A., Nathan Fenno notes the Rams on Monday asked a federal judge to "reconsider a ruling that the team must refund deposits to some fans who purchased personal seat licenses during the franchise’s two decades in St. Louis." In the filing, the Rams argued that U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh "held them liable for licenses to purchase season tickets sold by Fans Inc. when the group wasn’t acting as an agent for the franchise." Fans Inc. "sold the bulk of the 46,000 personal seat licenses in St. Louis." Fewer than 2,000 of the licenses were later "purchased directly from the Rams" (L.A. TIMES, 10/5).
EXPANDING THE HIVE: Hornets President & COO Fred Whitfield said that he wants to "keep those outside the immediate Charlotte area enthused about the Hornets ... especially those in the Triad." In Greensboro, Steve Huffman noted the Hornets are "taking several steps to make sure that happens." One is tomorrow's preseason game between the Hornets and Celtics at the Greensboro Coliseum. However, the more "long-term step may be the addition" of the NBA D-League Greensboro Swarm, who play their inaugural season this year. Whitfield: "We see Greensboro as an important market to the Hornets" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/3).
LEAVING ON A JET PLANE: In Detroit, Vince Ellis notes today marks the "first time" the Pistons are flying under the NBA's charter agreement with Delta, "joining 26 other teams under the program." The decision "effectively grounds Roundball One," the team-owned plane put into use by former Pistons Owner Bill Davidson. When Davidson made the call in '87 to "purchase a plane, the Pistons were one of the first teams in professional sports with a private charter." Players came to view it as a "competitive advantage," but it is "no longer a novelty" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/5).
