Franchise Notes
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Replica Jerseys For Warner, Other Cardinals
Are Hot-Selling Items For Franchise |
The NFL Cardinals said that retail sales at Univ. of Phoenix Stadium, the team's Tempe HQs and AZCardinals.com "have increased about 15[%] this year." Cardinals Exec VP & COO Ron Minegar: "It's pretty good considering what's going on with the economy. When you look in the marketplace there are more people wearing Cardinals gear than there was four to five years ago. It's a major part of building our fan base." Cardinals Merchandise Manager Percy Silva said that items "tailored for women have been hot sellers along with jerseys, including replica jerseys" of QB Kurt Warner and WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/31). Meanwhile, the Cardinals have teamed with Albertsons to "sell a special cereal called Breakfast Blitz." The "Cheerios-type cereal" has a picture of the team's cardinal mascot on the cover, and has been sold "since October in about 70 Arizona and New Mexico stores." Fans have bought "about 20,000 boxes, and the cereal sells for about $2 a box" (AZCENTRAL.com, 12/30).
BLAZING A TRAIL: In a Q&A with the PORTLAND TRIBUNE's Kerry Eggers, Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen said the team is "on the path to getting in much better shape financially, but there are a number of NBA franchises that are really struggling." Allen: "That's going to have to be addressed eventually. We'll spend money when it makes sense ... when it will help make our club better." He added, "Given the economy, the salary cap and (luxury) tax, numbers may be down for next year, so that might give us less room to do something. Our window is this summer before we extend players. We'll have some real interesting decisions then, and also as we look toward the trade deadline." Asked about a medical procedure he had in September, Allen said, "I'm much better. I don't really want to talk about it, but it was a very challenging thing to go through. I'm just glad to be feeling better. I'm probably about 75[%] right now" (PORTLAND TRIBUNE, 12/28).
THUNDER CLAP: In Oklahoma City, Mike Baldwin reports Thunder officials are "close to finalizing the character" for the team's mascot. But there is "still work to be done before the mascot makes [its] highly anticipated debut, most likely in February" (DAILY OKLAHOMAN, 1/2).
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