Franchise Notes
On Long Island, Neil Best notes Islanders tickets saw the "second-highest increase in the NHL on the resale market from the start of the season to its midpoint." Asking prices for the Islanders rose 25.5%, from an "average of $102 to $128, second only to the Blue Jackets, whose asking prices rose" by 27%. The increase "moved the Islanders from 26th place in the 31-team league to 14th." The Islanders' "better-than-expected play obviously is a factor, but so presumably is the fact that more late-season games than early season ones were scheduled for Nassau Coliseum, where ticket demand has been higher than at Barclays Center" (NEWSDAY, 2/12).
MAKING AMENDS: The CHICAGO TRIBUNE noted Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts and VP/Communications & Community Affairs Julian Green met with the Chicago Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Friday, "days after the publication of a series of emails" from his father in which Joe Ricketts "shared and endorsed racist jokes and conspiracy theories." Green yesterday said, “What we’re attempting to do is mend fences and try to take a very sad, hurtful, offensive situation and turn it into something good.” Green: "We didn’t come into the meeting to stand up with a photo op with a check to give to the organization, nor did they recommend that." He added the Cubs are "going to be involved' and "take some concrete and actual steps" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 2/11).
FIRST LOOK: In Cincinnati, Patrick Brennan noted FC Cincinnati yesterday unveiled its home jersey to the public "during a ticketed event at Music Hall in Over-the-Rhine." The jersey is a "primarily blue top with blue shorts and socks." Each separate piece has "elements of orange, most noticeably on the jersey top with its vertical orange striping and orange trim along the sleeves and neck." The jersey top has "three orange stripes, a signature feature for Adidas, across the shoulders." The jersey also "features a 'jock tag' in the left hip area that celebrates the club's inaugural season" (CINCINNATI.com, 2/11).