IRL Exec Dir Leo Mehl, on a CART/IRL merger: "It's
going to happen, it's just a matter of time. But so far,
nobody can tell me any scenario that won't cost somebody
$100 million, and I can't imagine any scenario where we'd be
willing to throw our cars away and put 90% of our teams out
of business." CART CEO Andrew Craig: "While I'd love to
talk about this issue, I think it's best discussed by the
parties involved at this stage" (USA TODAY, 9/24)....In
Detroit, Jeff Taylor reports that MLB revenue sharing is
expected to distribute $125M to smaller-income teams by
2000, with "top revenue clubs" writing checks in the range
of $8-10M a year, on top of "perhaps another" $2M-4M a year
each in luxury taxes. Bob Starkey, of Arthur Andersen
Consulting, said that the current "revenue disparity is too
wide," but that the current deal is still "far more
extensive than anybody realizes or gives it credit for." In
a sidebar, Taylor reports that the Tigers "are known to
generate no more than" $45-50M a year in income, including
revenue sharing (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/24)....Games One and
Two of the Triple-A World Series in Las Vegas have attracted
a combined 8,232 fans, "well below" expectations. In Las
Vegas, Gerry Prince writes that today's Game Three will be
"lucky" to draw 2,000 people (EDMONTON SUN, 9/24)....In
Calgary, Mark Miller reports that a "pre-season tourney that
could involve all six Canadian NHL franchises" is being
looked at. Flames GM Al Coates said the idea is "in its
infancy," and that a marketing committee involving the
Canadian teams "is studying the idea" (CALGARY SUN, 9/24).
