Lakers Raise Ticket Prices By Average Of 5% For ’07-08

The Lakers have increased ticket prices across the board for a second consecutive season, raising them by an average of almost 5%, according to Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. TIMES. Courtside seats increased 4.5% from $2,200 to $2,300 a game. Seats in the six lower-level sections between the baskets also increased 4.5%, from $220 to $230 a game. The NBA average for ticket-price increases last season was “about 3.5%.” Lakers Senior VP/Business Operations & CMO Tim Harris said, “Forty percent of our ticket inventory remains under $40, which makes Lakers basketball affordable.” Season-ticket holders renewed at a 97% rate last season (L.A. TIMES, 6/6).

WORKING TOGETHER: In N.Y., David Picker writes the Knicks and Nets are working out NBA Draft prospects together. The Nets hold the 17th pick in the draft and the Knicks own the 23rd pick, and Nets GM Ed Stefanski said one of the reasons the arrangement works is because of the “proximity of the draft picks.” He added of yesterday's first workout, “Everybody was in the gym together. There was no certain section for the Nets to sit and certain section for the Knicks.” Picker notes the NBA this year “changed the rules so teams can no longer evaluate players until after the annual predraft camp, which ended on June 1” (N.Y. TIMES, 6/6).

EARLY RETURNS: Blazers Exec VP/Business Operations Mike Golub said the team has sold 2,900 new full-season equivalents since receiving the first pick in the NBA Draft, representing more than $6M in new revenue. Golub expects to "blow by" his goal of 3,500 new season tickets set before the draft lottery.  He added that if sales continue at the current pace, the team "may have a base" of 8,000-10,000 season-ticket holders this season, up about 75% from last season (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/6).