The Steelers in a letter to season-ticket holders said they are raising ticket prices in order to "meet the challenges of remaining competitive" in the NFL. The team "did not make prices available, but it is known that tickets that cost $92 in 2011 will cost $100 next season" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 3/3).
MOVING FORWARD? In San Diego, Tim Sullivan notes Padres Vice Chair & CEO Jeff Moorad's "efforts to complete the purchase" of the Padres "will be addressed and perhaps resolved during meetings of Major League Baseball's ownership committee and executive council beginning March 12 in Phoenix." Sources said that the Padres have "completed the process of responding to baseball's questions," and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's "standard practice is to refrain from putting a matter to a vote unless he is confident of the outcome." An ownership source "interpreted recent developments as an indication of closure, saying Selig was unlikely to include the matter on the agenda if it was likely to be 'torpedoed'" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/4).
FIRING BACK: In Ottawa, Anthony Furey notes Senators Founder and former Owner Bruce Firestone echoed Senators President Cyril Leeder's "concern that nixing the entertainment tax credit for businesses would damage the viability" of the franchise. Firestone said, "It’s crucial. The most crucial things in any franchise are: No. 1, sell season tickets; No. 2, sell your seats and No. 3, have good relations with your sponsors." He added, "If you think about it, if a business puts an ad in a newspaper, it’s a marketing expense and it’s fully deductible. If you invite a client to a Leafs game, it’s only half deductible -- so what’s the difference? (OTTAWA SUN, 3/4).
YES, DEAR: TNT’s Charles Barkley last week criticized Bobcats Owner Michael Jordan’s decision-making and having too many “yes men” around him. ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said, “You have to purge, become awful and then use those draft picks to bounce up. If anybody is telling Jordan (anything) other than that, then I guess they would be ‘yes guys.'" Wilbon added, “Michael right now feels like LeBron a little bit. He’s getting dumped on. ... He’s going to have to ride this out” (“PTI,” ESPN, 3/2). The Miami Herald’s Israel Gutierrez said, “The saddest part is Charlotte remains middle-of-the-pack in attendance, which shows there’s a real fan base there, but His Airness isn’t the man to rebuild that team for them” (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 3/4).
