Rap-- 5 days and no interest here,,, just like in the mkt,, no one wants DIs. Looks like they may do something right here soon...
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 9 (UPI) _ The Los Angeles Times quotes baseball
sources as saying that after owning the team for only three seasons,
the Disney Co. is considering selling the Anaheim Angels.
That Disney officials would consider a sale may be a sign that the
team's problems go beyond griping and finger-pointing which have
dominated the three seasons.
The newspaper quoted an unnamed 'baseball source' as saying, 'I
think there are some thoughts that they would like to sell. But I'm
also not sure that they are not changing their mind day-to-day.
'I think they are in the internal debate stage and haven't gone so far
as to listen to offers or talk to potential buyers. I think it is a
situation that should be watched closely.'
Angel President Tony Tavares declined to be interviewed by the paper.
Other Angel officials say it was the first they had heard about a
possible sale.
Disney bought 25 percent and controlling interest in the Angels from
Gene Autry in 1996, with the option to buy the team outright after
Autry's death. Disney paid 'significantly more' than the $120 million
price originally agreed upon, according to a baseball source at the
time.
The Angels attendance increased dramatically last season to 2.5
million, the highest since 1990. Attendance has leveled off this
season, but will probably top two million again.
But the team has been a money loser in the 1990s, dropping more than
$12 million in 1995, the last year Autry controlled the team. The
payroll has increased to nearly $60 million.
Disney would be walking away from a significant investment in Edison
Field, not to mention risking the good will among Anaheim residents _
$30 million of the costs were supplied by the city and another $70
million was supplied by Disney.
The Angels are 46-64 and last in the American League West. They
suffered a 9-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday in front of 31,664
fans at Edison Field. _-
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