ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NHL.com | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER

  Scores
  Schedule
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Players
  Message Board
  Power Rankings
  NBA StatSearch
  NBA en espaņol
Clubhouses






Friday, March 23, 2001
Plans for future of club could be known by Monday



NEW YORK -- Vancouver Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley, seeking a new home for his financially troubled team, met with NBA commissioner David Stern on Thursday.

Grizzlies business operations director Andy Dolich and Heisley's attorney, Stan Meadows, also attended the meeting.

"Russ Granik, Joel Litvin and I had an informative and productive meeting today with Mr. Dolich and Mr. Meadows," Stern said in a statement. "They presented us with a progress report and will notify us of their plans on Monday."

The deadline for a relocation application to be filed with the league office is Monday.

The application will be investigated by a Relocation Committee of the Board of Governors, which must make a recommendation to the full Board within 120 days of receipt of the application.

"I don't know what is happening, to be honest," coach Sidney Lowe said before the Grizzlies' game in Cleveland. "Nobody has said anything to me. The only things I know are what people say are in the newspapers and I don't read those stories.

"I don't because then I can honestly say to players that I did not read the story. I tell them just to concentrate on basketball. But it is tough. It involves their families, where they live, where their kids go to school. It is definitely on the players' minds."

The cities in the running for the franchise are Anaheim, Louisville, Memphis and New Orleans.

The Grizzlies would be the first NBA franchise to relocate since the Kings moved from Kansas City to Sacramento before the 1985-86 season.

Vancouver entered the league in 1995. The Grizzlies have had little success financially or on the court.

The team, which never has won more than 22 games, already has had three owners. Heisley built the team a new practice facility after purchasing it in a deal that costs the team $5 million in rent at GM Place and provides no revenue from concessions, arena advertising or parking.

Heisley has been courted heavily by all four of the leading prospective cities.

Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
ALSO SEE
Companies, not just cities, compete in Grizzlies' relocation

Grizzlies owner reportedly intrigued by Chicago

New Orleans scrambling for corporate backing to lure Grizzlies

FedEx joins effort to move Grizzlies to Memphis




ESPN.com:  HELP |  ADVERTISER INFO |  CONTACT US |  TOOLS |  SITE MAP
Copyright ©2001 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.