Franchise Notes
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Godfrey Suggests Tax Plan
To Help Canadian Teams |
The GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts writes under outgoing Blue Jays President & CEO Paul Godfrey's tax plan, "all professional athletes who come to Canada to play against Canadian-based teams would pay a percentage of the income they earned during the visit to the province in question and receive a tax credit for the same amount from the jurisdiction in which they live." The money "would not only help professional teams, struggling because most of their revenue is in Canadian dollars and their expenses are in U.S. dollars, it would be shared with Canadian amateur sports groups." Godfrey: "The provinces could share the revenue received, yes with the professional Canadian sports teams, as well as at least 50[%] of it with the amateur sports in this country. The sports industry is not going away. But with the weak Canadian dollar, and if it continues to waver, then a lot of (teams) are going to need assistance and they are not going to be able to compete (with U.S.-based teams)." Godfrey's proposal "was met with skepticism" from agent Gil Scott, who reps players in the NHL, CFL and NFL. Scott said that some of the player's home jurisdictions "do not give them a full credit for the tax paid elsewhere, so it does act as an extra tax on the player." Scott: "It's not 100[%] credit everywhere. If they're not getting that, it's more tax. Also, their tax returns get more and more complex because of that" (GLOBE & MAIL, 11/12).
FAN ADVISORY BOARD: In Philadelphia, Paul Vigna reported the Flyers for the '08-09 season have started an "advisory board made up of 15 season ticketholders." The group, which was "picked randomly by the team, includes a mix of fans who just became ticketholders and those who have held their tickets for a number of years." The group also "represents fans sitting in sections throughout" the Wachovia Center. Flyers Senior VP/Business Operations Shawn Tilger said that the group has "met three times and will continue to meet periodically through the remainder of the season." Tilger said that one area where they have been "helpful so far is in making suggestions on getting the word out about the team's new initiatives to ticketholders" (PHILLY.com, 11/11).
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Kings Have Lowest Average
Home Attendance In NBA |
LOW SHOWING: In Sacramento, Marty McNeal reports the NBA Kings after three games at Arco Arena "had the NBA's lowest average home attendance" at 12,122 entering last night's game against the Pistons. Three games "do not make an ample sampling for what this season holds," yet the number of fans who either "decided not to renew their season tickets or could not because economic times are tight is high." McNeal: "After covering the Kings for 15 years and seeing the same faces in the same seats all those years, it's somewhat shocking to see those seats without the faces" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 11/12). Last night's Pistons-Kings game at Arco Arena drew 11,423 fans (THE DAILY).
STAMP OF APPROVAL: In Toronto, Dean McNulty reported the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) BOD has "given their stamp of approval" to MLS Toronto FC's "quest for a designated player." MLSE Exec VP & COO Tom Anselmi said the BOD's approval "doesn't mean we are going to go out and sign the first guy available." Anselmi said that the team has a 95% renewal rate for '09 season tickets and has a waiting list that has "grown to more than 13,000" (TORONTO SUN, 11/11).
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