The Devil Rays have currently sold 16,642 season tickets.
Managing General Partner Vince Naimoli expressed "some
disappointment" in the number, adding he was surprised only half
the people with reservations have so far purchased tickets. The
team plans to sell 27,000 season tickets, leaving the remainder
of the 45,200-seats available when they begin playing in '98 (ST.
PETE TIMES, 5/31)....N.Y. DAILY NEWS columnist Bob Raissman
writes "don't be surprised" if Nets ownership talks again with
Devils Owner John McMullen about the sale of the team after Rick
Pitino rejected their offer yesterday. N.Y. DAILY NEWS Ian
O'Connor notes Pitino was still uneasy with the team's ownership
structure and that the Nets could go back on the market (N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 5/31)...The resurgence of the Padres under co-Owners
John Moores and Larry Lucchino is examined by the WASHINGTON
TIMES. The team's active pursuit to market in Mexico has "even
gone as far as coming to Washington to meet with immigration
officials to improve the league border-crossing system, making it
easier for people to come north for games" (WASHINGTON TIMES,
5/31)... ...Patriots Owner Robert Kraft's $16M purchase of land
adjacent to Foxboro Stadium is examined by the BOSTON GLOBE's
Joan Vennochi, who notes that Kraft and the Bank of Boston have
commissioned a model of a new Boston stadium to sell Luxury boxes
and PSLs. Vennochi writes, in addition to parking, Kraft gained
the lease to Foxboro Raceway, which "could be explosively
lucrative" if the MA legislature approves slot machines. The
Patriots deny any plans related to casino-style gambling (BOSTON
GLOBE, 5/31).
