While neither NBA Commissioner David Stern nor Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik offered an estimate of potential
losses for the owners from the 99 canceled games, Granik
said the players would lose "about" $85M in salaries,
according to Phil Jasner of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS.
Granik added that given "the busy schedules of arenas around
the league," the canceled games "almost certainly would not
be made up, although there could be a few exceptions,"
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/14). In Chicago, Sam Smith
reports that teams will lose "close to" $100M in revenues
for the first two weeks and that the Bulls will lose about
$5M for their five lost games (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/14). In
L.A., Mark Heisler puts the owners' loss at "about" $50M
(L.A. TIMES, 10/14). In Toronto, Chris Young indirectly
quotes Granik as saying the league will lose $60-70M "or so"
in revenues. Young adds that the Raptors "stand to lose in
the neighborhood" of C$2.5M (TORONTO STAR, 10/14). Orlando
arena Manager Bill Becker said that losing three Magic games
in November will cost the city of Orlando "nearly $40,000 in
rent and concessions" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/14). Alameda
County Auditor-Controller Patrick O'Connell said that
cancelation of the entire season could add $8.4M to this
year's "taxpayer bailout of the Oakland Coliseum." A lease
provision releases the Warriors from their obligations in
the event of "fire, earthquake, flood, act of God, strikes
or other labor disputes" (CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 10/14).
SPONSORSHIP: USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand looks at the
economic impact of canceled games in a Sports section cover
story. IEG Sponsorship Report's Lesa Ukman: "If there was a
time the NBA couldn't afford this, it's now. It has nowhere
to go but down." Hiestand adds that the NBA has "already
taken a hit" in merchandise sales. Logo Athletic
VP/Marketing Eddie White: "Retailers are not ordering.
There's no interest. It's that simple" (USA TODAY, 10/14).
Burns Sports President Bob Williams: "You've got bunch of
arrogant owners and a bunch of arrogant players who can't
decide how to divvy up a billion-dollar-plus pie." Stanford
economist Roger Noll said with the possible retirement of
Michael Jordan and a lockout, "my guess is it would take
[the NBA] even longer than it took baseball to rebuild their
market" (Rick Morrissey, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/14).
