Druckenmiller Only Seeking Majority Ownership of Steelers

Potential Investor Wants To Have Majority Control Of Steelers

Ownership Change Could Spur State To Seek Reimbursement Of Heinz Field Construction Funds

Rooney Sought To Have Price Tag Put On Steelers As Early As '99

TAXING ISSUE: A WALL STREET JOURNAL editorial written under the header, "Pittsburgh Stealers," states the "citizens of Pittsburgh are getting an unpleasant lesson in the consequences of punitive taxation, courtesy of their beloved NFL franchise." A "fraternal squabble is under way over future ownership" of the team, "thanks in part to a sacking from the realities of estate and capital gains taxes." With the team's estimated value at at least $700M, the 45% "federal death tax rate could put each brother on the hook to the IRS for tens of millions of dollars," and that "may be more than they can afford." When taxes "force a family to sell a business, the losers are often the community as much as the next generation, as teams leave and neighborhood fixtures fade away" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/16).

VICTIM OF THEIR OWN SUCCESS: ESPN.com's John Clayton wrote with "inheritance taxes and stock buyouts, NFL ownership is getting more complicated." The "success of the NFL is turning the value of the franchises into the billions, but those values aren't easily passed on in the family to the next generation." The "problem is that the NFL is becoming a victim of its own success and needs to restudy its ownership structure," because "to keep this business a family affair its going to be difficult." Clayton: "What the NFL won't do is go to corporate ownership. That goes against the successful operating style of the NFL. But the league also must be careful and watch how the Steelers and other franchises handle the transition of family ownership, because only members of the Forbes 400's wealthiest list might be eligible for ownership of the 32 franchises" (ESPN.com, 7/15). 

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