The Blazers' move from Memorial Coliseum to the new Rose
Garden not only gave them an additional 8,500 seats, it presented
a problem not encountered before -- empty seats. According to
Jeff Manning of the OREGONIAN, a thousand empty seats during a
November 20 win against the Clippers not only ended "the longest
sellout streak in big-league sports", it sent "the Blazer front
office reeling" to find a new way to market for a larger arena.
Though the Blazers average 20,654 per game (up from 12,888 a year
ago), "signs of fan unrest persist." Blazers officials predict
as many as 2,000 of the 3,500 fans who bought season tickets this
year will not return in '96-97. Part of President Bob Whitsitt's
plan to keep fans involves improved community relations.
Whitsitt acknowledges complaints from the business community and
sponsors about the "arrogance" of the organization, much of it
directed at former President Marshall Glickman. Whitsitt: "The
bottom line is that we're a service business. We're asking
people to spend dollars with us that they don't have to spend.
So we have to treat them like we would want to be treated"
(Portland OREGONIAN, 4/12).
