maybe they think they can make more by selling the team and leasing the stadium to the new owner than by selling it outright That would backfire, big time. I've yet to see any evidence or explanation as to why the Tribune company would consider splitting the two. It's always speculation, and it's never quite added up for me. The delay is because of the books. Something tells me there was some funny accounting going on in the Tribune Tower, and JP Morgan is busy cleaning it up, thus the delay.