The ECHL Charlotte Checkers are looking to "reverse
declining fan interest" by improving marketing, adding
sponsors and selling more tickets, according to Erik
Spanberg of the CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL. The Checkers
averaged 4,336 fans per game last year at 10,000-seat
Independence Arena, a 16% drop from the '96-'97 season.
Season-ticket sales are down 50% in the past four years to
2,100 this season. To put an "emphasis on building the
franchise's fortunes," Owner Tim Braswell hired former
Charlotte Coliseum Authority Managing Dir Steve Camp as the
team's new GM. Camp, who is "well-connected and liked among
the city's business elite," hired Luquire George Andrews,
the NFL Panthers' marketing agency, to help promote the
team, and increased the team's marketing budget by 10% to
$250,000. Sponsorships, which sell for $10,000 to $50,000,
will bring in around $350,000 this year, "representing a
slight increase" over '97. Merchandise sales are targeted
for a 5% gain to $200,000. Overall, Spanberg reports that
the Checkers' total revenue will grow by 5% to 10% in '98,
"nearing" $3M (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/19).
