NHL: Although Steve Stavro and the Maple Leafs "have
scored" with the deal to buy the Raptors and Air Canada
Centre, the franchise's "biggest win might come if they gain
control of Union Station." The station, which the Leafs
plan to acquire to act as a "grand entrance" to Air Canada
Centre, is the country's largest transportation hub and a
property with "huge development potential and prospects for
massive profits" (TORONTO STAR, 2/28)....The NHL reportedly
spent $120,000 investigating the new Islanders' owners
before approving the team's sale. Former Owner John Pickett
"is responsible" for the payment (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/1).
NFL: The Nashville Sports Authority said the Oilers
have sold 42,200 of 56,485 PSLs for their new facility in
Nashville. The sales have raised "about" $58.9M of the $71M
earmarked to help finance the facility's construction
(Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 3/1)....The loss of the Browns
and the return of the franchise in '99 were examined by
CNN/SI's Vince Cellini on "Page 1." Cellini noted that
Cleveland wants an expansion team, not a relocated one. NFL
Exec VP/League Football Development Roger Goodell: "We think
at this stage that we're moving in a direction that would
allow us to go to the membership and seek approval for an
expansion franchise so that we can put an expansion
franchise in Cleveland for '99" (CNN, 2/28). USA TODAY's
Gordon Forbes reports that the NFL "will soon evaluate as
many as six prospective ownership groups for its new
Cleveland franchise. It hopes to have personnel and
marketing people in place by mid-April" (USA TODAY, 3/2).
OTHERS: In N.Y., Murray Chass reported that the Braves,
who hold spring training at the new Disney baseball complex,
are "believed to have become the first team" to charge fans
to watch workouts before the exhibition season began.
Disney officials said the $8 fee was "general admission for
the entire sports complex" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/1).
