MLB owners yesterday voted to approve public ownership
of franchises, according to Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore
SUN. The decision "could have a significant long-range
impact on the economic health of the industry" and owners
"apparently view it now as another way to bring new money
into the sport." MLB President & COO Paul Beeston: "It
certainly is another option for financing. When you've got
a new option available, it's going to be beneficial." Teams
"will not be allowed to put the majority of their stock in
the marketplace, and voting rights of public shares will be
restricted" (Baltimore SUN, 9/19). In N.Y., Murray Chass:
"No rush to the stock market is expected. ... To go public,
a team would have to issue a prospectus and annual reports
with financial disclosure that clubs have always been
reluctant to provide" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/19).
NO BLUE JAYS VOTE: A vote on the sale of the Blue Jays
was "pulled at the last minute from the agenda," according
to Jim Byers of the TORONTO STAR. One source close to the
meetings: "It was a shock. ... [I]t was suddenly taken off."
Another source said Blue Jays-parent Interbrew SA "asked
that the issue not be dealt with Wednesday." Byers adds
that it "isn't clear if the action was requested for
housekeeping reasons or something more serious, such as
problems with the proposed purchase" (TORONTO STAR, 9/19).
