12B - The Michigan Daily - SportsThursday - September 6, 2001
4
NFL improves offer,
officials will consider
NEW YORK (AP) - The NFL
increased its offer to locked-out offi-
cials yesterday and gave them a day to
consider before deciding whether to
go with replacements in the regular-
season openers this weekend.
The offer includes a 60-percent
increase in salaries this year, com-
pared with the 40-percent jump in the
NFL's last offer. But the rest of the
package remains the same, with offi-
cials' salaries doubled by 2003.
Tom Condon, the negotiator for the
union, was on his way back to his
Kansas City office, from where he
would present the new offer to the 119
officials.
League spokesman Greg Aiello said
the league had to know by today in
order to make plans for the weekend.
"We hope the membership will con-
sider it and respond favorably," Aiello
said.
Last week, the league locked out its
officials, who have been without a
contract since March. Commissioner
Paul Tagliabue said the NFL didn't
want to start the season without a con-
tract, which would allow officials to
walk off the field at any time.
Last week's final exhibitions were
worked with replacements, most from
NFL ticket costs rising
to unchartered territory
CHICAGO (AP) - For the first time, the average
price for an NFL ticket has broken the $50 mark and
taking a family of four to a game costs more than
$300.
Team Marketing Reports said yesterday that the
average ticket cost this year in the NFL was up by 8.7
percent, to $53.64.
The family cost, which includes tickets, parking,
food and souvenirs, rose 8.4 percent to an average of
$303.33.
Washington has the highest average ticket cost at
$81.69, and the highest cost for a family of four at $442.54.
Arizona has the lowest average cost at $37.60 and Atlanta the low-
est family cost at $228.06.
Denver and Pittsburgh , made the biggest jumps thanks to their new
stadiums.
Replacement referees confer during the second quarter of a Detroit Lions'
preseason game. Regular game officials are in the midst of a labor dispute.
college or the Arena League, and there
were no major gaffes.
Talks resumed Tuesday and went
for a half-hour yesterday morning,
when the league put its nUw offer, on
the table. Over the long term, howev-
er, the two sides remain 50-75 percent
apart.
The latest development leaves the
NFL with two plans, one of which
must be implemented by today. One
has a slate of regular officials sched-
uled for the 15 games on opening
week; the other has crews of replace-
ments, augmented by NFL supervi-
sors, ready to get to the games.
Regardless of who works them, the
replacement officials have been guar-
anteed four games at S2,000 per
game.
...........
The Steelers moved from 28th last year
to fifth at $62.03, a 52.2 percent
increase.
Denver, which is opening Invesco Field
at Mile High this year, jumped from 16th
to second at $77.61, an increase of.66.8
percent.
The Broncos are also second in family
cost.
Family price includes four tickets, two
small beers, four soft drinks, four hot
dogs, parking and two adult-sized caps.
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Friday, Sept. 7
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2001 Home Opener!
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