Hello, This Is Gordon Gund: Cavs' New Marketing Initiative

In an attempt to keep Cavaliers' season-ticket holders, Cavaliers Owner Gordon Gund, GM Jim Paxson and head coach John Lucas made phone calls to season-ticket holders throughout Northeast OH during a four-hour period last week, according to Chris Tomasson of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. Tomasson writes that the Cavaliers "are on the offensive," as the team has seen its season-ticket base decrease from nearly 9,500 before the '98 lockout to about 6,500 this season. During what was dubbed the "Phone Blitz," Gund, Paxson and Lucas made a total of about 275 phone calls, and "for those who couldn't be reached, messages were left, many on answering machines." Tomasson notes NBA Commissioner David Stern "was intrigued by the marketing idea," and Cavaliers VP/Communications Ed Markey said that he "doesn't know of another NBA team that ever has done anything like it." But since season-ticket holders have until the end of August "to commit to keeping the same seats as last season, statistics are not yet available on the success" of the "Phone Blitz." Meanwhile, Gund, Paxson and Lucas "have also appeared at a luncheon for season-ticket [holders] and the three took calls on a radio show for two hours." Tomasson adds that two weeks ago, Lucas spoke to a group of about 450 season-ticket holders (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 8/21).