In Indianapolis, Mike Wells reports the Pacers are offering a "loyalty option" during the lockout that allows ticket holders who "pay in full or 'maintain their payment plan' to keep their money in their account and accrue anywhere from five to 10 percent credit in the form of interest for future use for each home game canceled." Credit is "based on ticket packages." Ten percent "goes to those with a full-season package, 6 percent for half-season packages and 5 percent for mini-season ticket packages." Wells notes the Pacers also are offering a "basic option" that allows ticket holders to "receive purchase price refunds plus an annual rate of 1 percent on the principle for canceled games" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/2).
MAKING THEIR MARK: Warriors co-Owner Joe Lacob said the team's search for a new president is in the "recruiting process." In San Jose, Tim Kawakami reported Lacob in the interim is "handling the CEO and president roles." Lacob said that new CFO Marty Glick is "strictly that -- CFO -- and will not be serving any president-functions." Lacob: "By the one-year mark of our ownership on November 12, I think you will see a virtually entirely new organization. It takes time to evaluate and then find replacements of the highest quality." Kawakami also noted the "refurbishment of the team's HQs in downtown Oakland is well under way and should be completed by the end of August" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 7/29).
TOPPING THE TABLE: A BBC Sport survey found that Blackburn Rovers "offer better value deals for adults without season tickets" than the other EPL teams. Blackburn offers about $16.25 (all figures U.S.) tickets "for several games a season -- meaning fans can enjoy the match, a pie, a programme and a cup of tea for just" $28.50. That is in comparison to nearby Liverpool, "where the cheapest day out available" is $76.40. Clubs in London are "generally more expensive, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham having the highest cost of matchday tickets in the country." However, Chelsea's cheapest ticket is $38.25, less than Manchester City's cheapest ticket of $40.70 and Manchester United's cheapest ticket of $57.90 (BBC.co.uk, 8/1).
LOSING PERSPECTIVE? In Boston, Joan Vennochi notes just days after the late Myra Kraft, wife of Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, was “lovingly memorialized by family, friends, and assorted Patriots," coach Bill Belichick "began the process of acquiring Albert Haynesworth, a player with an upcoming trial date for a misdemeanor sexual assault charge.” Myra Kraft “believed that character, integrity, and respect for women are more important than yards gained on a football field.” Vennochi: “It didn’t take long for the New England Patriots to walk away from Myra Kraft’s legacy. ... Haynesworth’s shot with the Patriots shows how out of control Super bowl fever can get, without someone like Myra Kraft to keep life and football in perspective” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/2).
