High-ranking Dodgers officials "met Tuesday in New York with Major League Baseball executives in a late effort to keep embattled Frank McCourt as owner of one of baseball's marquee teams," according to sources cited by Jon Heyman of SI.com. It is "unknown" whether McCourt attended the meeting, though MLB Commissioner Bud Selig "did not." McCourt and Dodgers officials "have been asking MLB for months to approve a $200 million loan from Fox as an advance on a possible TV deal with the Dodgers." Selig is reportedly "leery of Fox fronting money to McCourt after the Dodger owner's embarrassing public divorce revealed enormous personal spending and a lavish lifestyle that has left him, in the words of one person familiar with the situation, 'in hock.'" There is "no evidence yet that Selig is inclined to bail out McCourt." Other ideas "beyond a Fox loan are believed to have been discussed in Tuesday's meeting in an effort to appease MLB." But McCourt "may face an uphill battle since many of the other 29 owners generally disapprove of how he has operated" (SI.com, 4/5). In L.A., Shaikin & Hernandez note Selig "has to approve any television deal," and without the latest deal being discussed with Fox, McCourt "might be unable to afford to settle his divorce without selling the team." Selig "wants McCourt out, but the commissioner risks a lawsuit from McCourt should he reject what would be a fair-market television deal comparable to other clubs" (L.A. TIMES, 4/6).
HEALTHY SPONSOR ROSTER: The Dodgers recently have closed several partnerships for the '11 season, in addition to previously announced deals with United Airlines, Univision Radio, Farmer John and Azul Tequila. The team has named Sports Authority the official sporting goods retailer of the club as part of a three-year strategic partnership. In addition to in-stadium branding and Dodgers media assets, Sports Authority will execute in-store promotions and a sweepstakes on Dodgers.com. Mercury Insurance will return for its fifth season as a Dodgers sponsor, and the company again will run an online sweepstakes on the Dodgers' website. The Dodgers also have partnered with Bally Total Fitness for the second year in a row and renewed their partnership with Amtrak. In addition, the Dodgers have partnered with Paramount Farms for the '11 season. This marks Paramount's third season as a Dodgers sponsor (Dodgers).
