Harris County officials asked U.S. District Judge Lynn
Hughes yesterday to make Oilers Owner Bud Adams come to the
bargaining table and try to keep the team in Houston, according
to the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. The goal is to start negotiations for
a new stadium, which County Judge Robert Eckels and others would
like to build near the Astrodome. The team says local officials
have waited too long, and Oilers Exec VP Mike McClure called it
"nothing more than grandstanding." Under an October court
settlement, the Oilers agreed to start talks in Houston if an
agreement was not reached in Nashville by December 1. In its
attempt to force negotiations, the County claims that since Adams
has the right to back out of the Nashville deal in March, he has
no agreement to move. Houston Mayor Bob Lanier thinks the
Oilers' deal with Nashville is "95% done," but that it's "worth a
shot" (John Williams, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/26).
20 MCLANE SAYS STADIUM PROBLEMS IN VIRGINIA OF LITTLE CONCERN
Astros Owner Drayton McLane said Thursday he has not spoken
to Virginia Baseball's William Collins in over a month and that
he knows little of the recent failure of a stadium financing plan
necessary to bring the Astros to VA by '97, according to the
HOUSTON CHRONICLE. McLane said he had heard there were stadium
problems, but didn't know much about the financing. He added he
is focusing on "doing what we have to do to sell more tickets in
order to keep the team here." George Barton, Chair of the
Northern VA Stadium Authority, suggested last week that if
Collins can't get a stadium package, the team could move to
Orlando where Norton Herrick has a tentative stadium financing
agreement with the city. McLane said he has had "no dialogue
with anyone from Orlando" (Terry Blount, HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
1/26).
TIX UPDATE: An anonymous organization made a $150,000
Astros season-ticket commitment yesterday. The tickets will be
distributed by several local charities. In addition, the Houston
Chronicle purchased an additional 61 season tickets for employees
(Carlos Byars, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/26).
