Franchise Notes
TRYING TO REEL THE FANS IN: In Miami, Greg Cote notes the Marlins play 12 of their next 14 games at Pro Player Stadium and writes, "It is a run that could make the old Joe Robbie Stadium rock with big, excited crowds and create real momentum for a favorable referendum vote on that essential new stadium. ... Everything is on trial these next telling couple of weeks" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/12). Also in Miami, Ellis Berger reports a parking tax that "figures prominently" in plans to pay for a new Marlins ballpark was declared unconstitutional yesterday by a state appeals court. Marlins execs said that they did not have a chance to review the ruling "to determine what it means for the ballpark plans" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 7/12).
NOTES: Kroenke Sports Enterprises President Don Elliman, on Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen, former Broncos QB John Elway and Avalanche/Nuggets/Pepsi Center Owner Stan Kroenke possibly purchasing an AFL franchise: "It's definite that we're interested. It could happen as soon as next year; there's some chance of that. Equally, it could not happen until the next year." Elliman said that the AFL team would play at the Pepsi Center (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/12)....In Detroit, Mike O'Hara reports the Lions have sold 49,700 season tickets for this season and "are hoping to break" the Silverdome record of 50,331, set in '75, when the stadium opened (DETROIT NEWS, 7/12)....Phillies P Ricky Bottalico, on small crowds at Veterans Stadium despite being in first place in the NL East with a 50-37 record: "They're still [ticked] off for what's happened over the last four or five years" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 7/12).
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