Franchise Notes
Chicago Department of Revenue spokesperson Ed Walsh Thursday said that the city "always planned to levy amusement taxes on Chicago Bears season ticket licenses," and that a 7% amusement tax was "paid by the Bears on the initial sales of the permanent seat licenses between late 2002 and early 2003." In Chicago, Hal Dardick notes Walsh's comments "came a day after the cash-strapped city informed some PSL owners they might have to pay the amusement tax." Bears Senior Dir of Corporate Communications Scott Hagel said that the Bears are "subject to annual audit by the city," and that "as part of the most recent audit, the city 'requested a list of PSL transfers, and we were obligated to reply.'" Hagel: "We didn't have a choice." Dardick notes the initial licenses, which "applied to nearly half of 61,500 seats, cost between [$900-10,000], but sales records indicate they have increased in value threefold in some cases" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/22).
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Irsay Plans To Bring Back Two
Colts Assistant Coaches |
WELCOME BACK: Colts Owner Jim Irsay Wednesday confirmed that he "plans to bring back" Colts assistant coaches Tom Moore and Howard Mudd, both of whom retired last week because of "concerns with the NFL's pension program." Moore and Mudd are "expected to return as consultants, perhaps by the start of training camp, which opens Aug. 2." NFL Coaches Association Exec Dir Larry Kennan indicated that Mudd is "under the impression a retired coach must wait six months from the time he files his retirement documents to assume a paid consultant's role." That "would make it mid-November" before Mudd and Moore "could return." The Colts "maintain Moore and Mudd can be rehired as paid consultants Aug. 1" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/21).
TICKET MASTERS: MSG Sports President Scott O'Neil indicated that the Knicks "have sold 950 new season ticket packages since mid-April." In N.Y., Marc Berman writes that number is "shocking considering that all of last offseason, the Knicks totaled 1,000 new season-ticket packages." O'Neil "assigns the spike in season-ticket sales to the prospect of the Knicks having cap space for the first time" since the mid-90's (N.Y. POST, 5/22). Meanwhile, in Orlando, Beth Kassab reports the Magic "in the past three days" have sold 400 new season tickets for next season (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/22).
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