The NBA "stands to lose out on about" $100M in
revenues, "or much more, as the sounds of no basketballs
dribbling reverberates down to its bottom line," according
to Richard Wilner of the N.Y. POST. While the NBA's "lost
revenues may stretch well into nine figures, the amount of
lost business for the nation's retailers could reach" $500M
"should Michael Jordan and company not return to court this
year." In terms of licensed merchandise, JCPenney, which is
"among the top five sellers" of NBA licensed goods, has cut
orders in half and also reduced NBA floor space (N.Y. POST,
10/15). Sporting Goods Intelligence Editor John Horan: "The
lockout makes it easy for apparel buyers at stores because
they simply don't buy NBA apparel." Nike spokesperson
Vizhier Corpuz Mooney said, "The effect on Nike has been
minimal so far. And it's going to be very difficult to
predict the ultimate impact until we're certain whether or
not we'll have a season." Mooney added that the company
"still plans to promote the game" and will go forward with
apparel/footwear releases. NBAP President Rick Welts said
corporate partners of the league "have been terrific" in
their support. Welts: "Some of those companies have had to
make adjustments ... but these companies want us to emerge
from this as a business partner who will be with them for
the long term." But in L.A., Greg Johnson wrote that
"doesn't mean" sponsors like AT&T "aren't reviewing their
advertising and marketing budgets." AT&T sponsors the $1M
three-point shootout and spokesperson Burke Stinson said its
involvement in future events will be decided in part by
"whether this [NBA] decision leaves a bitter taste in fans'
mouth. AT&T certainly has many options as to where it
spends its adverting and marketing budget" (L.A. TIMES,
10/14). In Boston, Greg Gatlin wrote that the labor dispute
has not hurt sales of basketball sneakers, which "have shown
signs of life recently." Reebok said next week it will
launch its new Allen Iverson shoe (BOSTON HERALD, 10/14).
NOT A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER? Philadelphia's potential
loss of the '99 All-Star Game is examined by Christopher
Hepp in a front-page feature in the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
under the header, "NBA Lockout Could Foul All-Star Weekend
For The City's Hotels" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/15).
