The only Knick "whose job was truly saved" by the
team's victory over the Heat on Sunday is MSG President Dave
Checketts, according to Peter Vecsey of the N.Y. POST, who
writes that the Knicks' win assures Cablevision of "at
least" two more home games of ticket revenue and
advertising, which adds up to around $5M (N.Y. POST, 5/18).
NO CROSS TO BEAR AFTER LOSS: Heat President/Business
Operations Jay Cross said that he "was not concerned" about
the team's first-round playoff loss affecting ticket sales
at the new AmericanAirlines Arena next season. So far, more
than 9,000 of this year's 10,300 season-ticket holders have
renewed and the team has sold more than 90% of its higher-
priced premium seats (MIAMI HERALD, 5/18).
AVERTING A BLACKOUT: A "surge" in ticket sales Monday
helped the Hawks avoid a local blackout of Games One and Two
against the Knicks at the GA Dome. While the games aren't
sold out, roughly 6,800 tickets were sold for Game One,
bringing the total to about 11,000 at the 21,570-seat
facility, and lifting the blackout (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
5/18). An Alamodome crowd of 25,297 saw the Lakers-Spurs
Game One last night despite only two days of ticket sales.
The team's front office "predicts more than" 35,000 will
show up for Game Two on Wednesday (EXPRESS-NEWS, 5/18).
