The sale of a minority share in the Mets to hedge fund manager David Einhorn “is progressing but likely will not close until August,” according to a source cited by Adam Rubin of ESPN N.Y. The source added that while Einhorn’s “window for exclusive negotiating with” Mets co-Owner Fred Wilpon and family “has expired, the sides are moving toward a final agreement that is not expected to get sidetracked.” The source said, “Things are proceeding smoothly. It’s just taking longer than expected.” Einhorn “intends to purchase a minority share” for $200M (ESPNNY.com, 7/7). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir cites sources as saying that that the “likelihood of concluding the deal with Einhorn remained high.” It is “unclear what is causing the delay and whether any serious issues are left to be resolved.” Wilpon has said that he expects the team to “lose $70 million this season -- well more than the $51 million loss it sustained last year, when attendance at Citi Field fell by nearly 20 percent.” Although the Mets are "exceeding expectations" on the field, attendance is "down 10 percent even after a boost from the recent interleague series against the Yankees that averaged 41,525 fans a game.” The team would not “offer ticket-sales figures for the second half of the season.” But Mets Exec VP/Business Operations Dave Howard said that “high walk-up ticket sales to the Father’s Day game against the Los Angeles Angels and needing to sell standing-room tickets to two of the Yankees games” are “positive signs” (N.Y. TIMES, 7/8).
