The children of Frank Sinatra, a long-time Dodgers fan who has held season tickets for his family since 1958, have filed an official request with the bankruptcy court asking that they and other season ticketholders be allowed to form an official committee in the bankruptcy case. Nancy, Frank Jr. and Tina Sinatra and the other ticket holders are seeking recognition as an official committee to advocate on behalf of Dodger fans who generally blame team owner Frank McCourt for its financial problems.
They did not specify their concerns or motives in a filing with the bankruptcy court. But an official committee would speak on behalf of all season ticket holders, and would have some or all of its expenses for lawyers and advisers paid by the Dodgers.
It isn’t likely that the fans will get their way. The bankruptcy court has already struck from the docket irate letters sent by fans who accuse the Dodgers owner of driving the team into bankruptcy. While the bankruptcy court has made it clear that they understand the concerns of fans, allowing the fans an official voice in the bankruptcy proceedings wouldn’t make sense. Only parties who have an interest in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy are allowed to participate in the process. Having an interest means that there is some type of money involved, for example creditors who are owed money can form committees in bankruptcy. But season ticketholders are not impacted directly by the bankruptcy because the Dodgers are still playing baseball and fans can still attend the games. If the Dodgers were no longer honoring season tickets because of the bankruptcy, then they fans might have a case for receiving an official place at the table during the bankruptcy negotiations. But that’s simply not the case now.