DISNEY CANCELS DEAL FOR ANGELS.Byline: E. Scott Reckard Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. The Walt Disney Noun 1. Walt Disney - United States film maker who pioneered animated cartoons and created such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founded Disneyland (1901-1966) Disney, Walter Elias Disney Co. abandoned plans to buy the California Angels after the company couldn't reach an agreement Wednesday with Anaheim to renovate the team's ballpark. "It's not going to happen; this deal is over," said Tony Tavares, president of Disney Sports Enterprises Inc. "We happened to think we put a deal before them. Apparently they didn't." On Jan. 18, baseball owners approved Disney's deal to buy 25 percent of the Angels from Gene Autry. Disney would have operated the Angels and had the right to purchase the remainder of the team after Autry's death. Disney Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner Michael Dammann Eisner (born March 7, 1942) was CEO of The Walt Disney Company from September 22, 1984 to September 30, 2005. Early life Michael Eisner was born to a wealthy family in Mt. Kisco, New York, and raised on Park Avenue in Manhattan. said then that the company wouldn't close on the deal unless it reached an agreement with Anaheim by March 17 on a plan to renovate Anaheim Stadium. Disney said it would contribute $70 million if Anaheim paid $30 million. Tavares said Wednesday that problems with parking and other amenities were too great to give fans a Disney-quality experience. Meanwhile, acting baseball commissioner Bud Selig Allan Huber "Bud" Selig, Jr. (born July 30, 1934 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is the Commissioner of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was previously the team owner and administrator of the Milwaukee Brewers. said the deal wasn't dead. "I've talked to both (Autry's wife) Jackie . . . and the Disney people. I'm still hopeful they can get an agreement with Anaheim," Selig said. Jackie Autry Jackie Autry, (born Jacqueline Ellam) the former owner of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and widow of singer, actor and businessman Gene Autry. She is the Honorary President of Major League Baseball's American League, an office she has held since 1999. said by telephone late Wednesday that she believes the deal "is dead, as of today," but added: "I'm taking a Pollyanna approach and hoping with my heart instead of my brain that this transaction will be consummated con·sum·mate tr.v. con·sum·mat·ed, con·sum·mat·ing, con·sum·mates 1. a. To bring to completion or fruition; conclude: consummate a business transaction. b. . They still have until Monday to resolve all the issues. "Life is full of disappointments," she said. "What can I tell you? I expected the thing to go through. Gene is extraordinarily disappointed because he associates Walt Disney with Walt. 'At his age (88), he feels like he was selling the club to Walt Disney, not the company." Jackie Autry said she believes both the Disney Co. and the city of Anaheim probably will be to blame if the deal is not revived re·vive v. re·vived, re·viv·ing, re·vives v.tr. 1. To bring back to life or consciousness; resuscitate. 2. To impart new health, vigor, or spirit to. 3. . |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion