Arsenal Chair Peter Hill-Wood "has hit back at criticism" of the EPL club's BOD from former board member Lady Bracewell-Smith, who stepped down in '08. Bracewell-Smith Tuesday on Twitter wrote, "I agree that current board should all go. They are passe. Have nothing more to give to the club at all. In time we will need a more dynamic proactive, younger board, and a good directional leadership." Hill-Wood said in response, "I wouldn't pay any attention to it myself. I don't know why she is suddenly sounding off. She should keep herself quiet and not complain." Bracewell-Smith has been "relatively silent since her departure from the board though now claims she was 'caught in the cross fire' of a 'war' between" former Arsenal Vice Chair David Dein and late BOD member Danny Fiszman (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 6/29).
WITH THIS RING: Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy in a mailing to season-ticket holders this week "unveiled an inventory" of Super Bowl XLV rings, "other jewelry and specialty items that they now can purchase." A 10-karat ring that "identifies the owner as a shareholder or season-ticket holder costs $2,499." Packers Dir of Retail Operations Kate Hogan said that "fan jewelry and other Super Bowl items produced by Jostens eventually will be available for sale in the Packers Pro Shop, but a date has not yet been set" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 6/30).
AN ETERNAL FLAME: In Salt Lake City, Kyle Goon reported new Utah Blaze Owners Logan Hunter and Kristin Murdock are "now comfortable enough to say the AFL should be here to stay." Hunter said, "If we get back anywhere close to the attendance the team was getting in the first three years, we’ll be just fine. We’ve turned the corner for sure. I don’t think we’re in any jeopardy." Blaze attendance at EnergySolutions Arena has "ticked up to nearly 8,500 people per game," about a 69% improvement from last season at the Maverik Center. Goon noted while the league "has less corporate sponsorship" than it did before shutting down for the '09 season, a "new financial model in which the AFL as an entity pays players and coaches instead of teams themselves has generated more stability" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 6/29).
