Commissioner Tagliabue Interview With Indianapolis Star
October 8, 2002

IS: Should Jim Irsay commit to staying in Indianapolis through the 2006 season?

PT: I’m telling you more than that. I’m telling you that as a matter of NFL policy, he’s going to honor his lease.  He’s obligated to under our policy and our owners and I are not going to let him breach this lease.  That’s our policy.  That gets back to concept of breaches and compliance and doesn’t go to the concept of loopholes because there is no such concept.

IS: Are the Colts successful in generating revenue?

PT: I think they are working hard at trying to be successful.  I think they’re in the middle of the pack.  And I think that they are evolving.  Their initiatives are evolving.  I think that their community involvement in terms of United Way and other community activities is positive.  I think that can be part of the partnership with the business community and can improve not just commercial but youth sports and other community-based, not-for-profit endeavors.  I think most of our small market teams are still evolving in this area.

IS: What influences how well a team does financially?

PT: Team performance, other entertainment and leisure time in the market place, the populations and the demographics of the market place in terms of disposable income.  Those are all underlying factors in addition to marketing, pricing, and offering service and value.

IS: Can the Colts survive in the long term at the RCA Dome?

PT: I don’t have a quick answer to that and I’d rather not speculate.