The NFL Oilers' agreement in principle to play the next
two seasons in Memphis has gone from "all-but-final" to "a
fragile state," according to Oilers Exec VP Mike McClure in
a report by David Williams of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL.
The deal is "threatened by controversy" over Memphis &
Shelby County Sports Authority Chair Avron Fogelman's
agreement to have the authority help pay Oiler travel costs
to and from Nashville, where the team will be based during
game weeks. The cost of in-state travel "is expected" to be
about $300,000 annually, which would be paid from a sales
tax rebate on game-day revenues to the authority. McClure:
"There's been an effort made to try and change the way were
going about doing the deal. We've got to know that we have
a deal." McClure, asked if the Oilers have other options
while waiting for Nashville's stadium to be completed: "We
haven't left Houston yet." McClure would not say if the
travel cost was a "deal-breaking issue." Efforts to reach
Fogelman were unsuccessful (COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 5/13).
OUT OF HOUSTON? Houston KRIV-TV cited sources saying
the city has agreed to accept $250,000 from the Oilers to
cover legal fees incurred in court battles with the team,
according to an AP report. The amount is half of what
Houston Mayor Bob Lanier originally sought. The team is now
awaiting Harris County approval of a $3.5M deal reached last
week between the Oilers and Astrodome USA allowing the team
to leave Houston for Tennessee (CBS.SportsLine, 5/14).
