FRANCHISE NOTES
NHL: In N.Y, Phil Mushnick writes that a letter sent to
Rangers season-ticket holders by MSG President Dave
Checketts explained the team's ticket price increases as
"fuel" for the team's rebuilding process. Mushnick:
"Fascinating. We've never heard of a rebuilding process
that featured the signing of a player [Brian Leetch] who has
been on the team for 10 years" (N.Y. POST, 7/9)....In
Philadelphia, Tim Panaccio writes that the Flyers'
"inability to advance deep into the" NHL playoffs "cost the
organization 'millions'" and "now it will cost the fans."
Ticket prices for the Flyers will go up next season "by an
average of" 8%, with the increase varying upon seat
location. "Some" season-tickets "will rise just" 6%, while
"the best seats" in First Union Center will increase 11.5%
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 7/9)....Former Penguins trainer
Charles Thayer "may wind up as an unsecured creditor" of the
team, "depending on the resolution of his workers'
compensation case." If his claim is accepted, he will be
awarded a maximum payment of $20,000 (POST-GAZETTE, 7/8).
NOTES: Though the Rockies season-ticket base of 34,000
leads MLB, the team has experienced a 9% drop in tickets
sold this season, and the number of single-game tickets sold
has dropped almost one-third from the '95-98 average. The
team is on pace to sell 3.45 million tickets this year,
338,000 fewer than last year (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS,
7/9)....In Cincinnati, Cliff Peale wrote that MLB canceled
its June owners' meetings set for Pittsburgh "when it
became clear" the $67M sale of the Reds to the group headed
by Carl Lindner "was not ready" (CINCINNATI POST,
7/8)....Browns President Carmen Policy announced that the
team's practices from July 22 through August 23 will be open
to 4,500 fans each day at no charge (BEACON JOURNAL, 7/9).
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