Published December 2, 2009
THE DAILY each day this week is presenting the results from the fifth annual SportsBusiness Daily/SportsBusiness Journal readers survey on the state of the sports industry. Today, we look at an overview of the NBA, NHL, motorsports and the best of the rest. Turnkey Sports & Entertainment partnered with SBD/SBJ on the survey.
NBA
| Will the New Jersey Nets ever get Barclays Center built and move to Brooklyn? |
 |
Yes |
61.36%
|
 |
No |
38.64%
|
| Responses: 1,061 |
| Biggest challenge facing the NBA in the year ahead: |
|
Reach a new labor agreement |
28.33%
|
|
Corporate and ticket sales |
23.17%
|
|
Increase national TV ratings |
18.76%
|
|
Increase revenue sharing between big-market and small-market teams |
12.76%
|
|
Maximizing global potential |
11.73%
|
|
Other |
5.25%
|
| Responses: 1,066 |
| NBAs talks on a new labor agreement will result in: |
|
New deal |
75.40%
|
|
Work stoppage |
24.60%
|
| Responses: 1,053 |
| Most marketable player: |
|
LeBron James |
69.79%
|
|
Kobe Bryant |
12.29%
|
|
Dwight Howard |
6.00%
|
|
Shaquille ONeal |
4.69%
|
|
Dwyane Wade |
2.91%
|
| Responses: 1,066 |
|
| Most effective team owner: |
|
Jerry Buss (Los Angeles Lakers) |
37.22%
|
|
Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks) |
19.24%
|
|
Wyc Grousbeck (Boston Celtics) |
9.82%
|
|
Peter Holt (San Antonio Spurs) |
9.14%
|
|
Dan Gilbert (Cleveland Cavaliers) |
5.64%
|
| Responses: 1,029 |
| Least effective team owner: |
|
James Dolan (New York Knicks) |
22.51%
|
|
Donald Sterling (Los Angeles Clippers) |
20.04%
|
|
Bob Johnson (Charlotte Bobcats) |
10.37%
|
|
Michael Heisley (Memphis Grizzlies) |
7.11%
|
|
Christopher Cohan (Golden State Warriors) |
6.12%
|
| Responses: 1,013 |
| NBA will place a franchise first in this country: |
|
It will never expand outside of North America |
45.99%
|
|
China |
21.25%
|
|
England |
11.80%
|
|
Spain |
11.05%
|
|
Italy |
4.25%
|
|
Germany |
1.98%
|
|
France |
0.76%
|
|
Other |
2.93%
|
| Responses: 1,059 |
|
NHL
| Biggest challenge facing the NHL in the year ahead: |
|
Improve network and cable television ratings |
50.42%
|
|
Execute an effective marketing strategy |
20.65%
|
|
Increase the visibility of players |
12.16%
|
|
Agree to a new collective-bargaining agreement |
8.70%
|
|
Improve the way teams manage finances, salary cap |
5.66%
|
|
Other |
2.41%
|
| Responses: 954 |
| Most effective team owner: |
|
Mike Ilitch (Detroit Red Wings) |
33.08%
|
|
Mario Lemieux/Ron Burkle (Pittsburgh Penguins) |
17.47%
|
|
Rocky Wirtz (Chicago Blackhawks) |
10.44%
|
|
Comcast-Spectacor (Philadelphia Flyers) |
10.00%
|
|
Ted Leonsis (Washington Capitals) |
7.25%
|
| Responses: 910 |
| Most marketable player: |
|
Sidney Crosby |
58.46%
|
|
Alexander Ovechkin |
32.24%
|
|
Martin Brodeur |
2.22%
|
|
Vincent Lecavalier |
1.16%
|
| Responses: 946 |
|
| Event you would rather see: |
|
Stanley Cup Final |
72.32%
|
|
Winter Classic |
27.68%
|
| Responses: 950 |
| Least effective team owner: |
|
Jerry Moyes (Phoenix Coyotes)* |
37.02%
|
|
Charles Wang (New York Islanders) |
8.80%
|
|
James Dolan (New York Rangers) |
7.45%
|
|
Oren Koules/Len Barrie (Tampa Bay Lightning) |
7.34%
|
|
Atlanta Spirit (Atlanta Thrashers) |
6.77%
|
* Since the survey was conducted, the league has assumed control of the Coyotes in bankruptcy proceedings.
Responses: 886 |
| State of the NHL now compared with five years ago: |
|
Stronger property |
33.72%
|
|
Weaker property |
22.72%
|
|
About the same |
19.79%
|
|
Much stronger property |
14.66%
|
|
Much weaker property |
9.11%
|
| Responses: 955 |
| What should be the NHL's cable television strategy? |
|
Try to move to ESPN |
61.88%
|
|
Look at other network options |
24.40%
|
|
Stay with Versus |
13.72%
|
| Responses: 955 |
|
MOTORSPORTS
| Property best positioned for growth: |
|
IndyCar Series |
57.52%
|
|
AMA Supercross/Motocross |
19.66%
|
|
NHRA |
15.30%
|
|
American Le Mans |
6.46%
|
|
IHRA |
1.06%
|
| Responses: 758 |
| Most marketable driver in NASCAR: |
|
Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
34.10%
|
|
Jimmie Johnson |
17.94%
|
|
Tony Stewart |
16.54%
|
|
Jeff Gordon |
12.47%
|
| Responses: 786 |
|
| State of NASCAR now compared with five years ago: |
|
Weaker property |
44.00%
|
|
About the same |
19.62%
|
|
Stronger property |
17.25%
|
|
Much weaker property |
13.88%
|
|
Much stronger property |
5.25%
|
| Responses: 800 |
| Biggest challenge facing NASCAR in the year ahead: |
|
Rising cost of sponsorships |
28.29%
|
|
Health of U.S. automakers |
25.41%
|
|
TV ratings |
17.77%
|
|
Attendance |
15.52%
|
|
Expansion beyond U.S. borders |
5.88%
|
|
Performance of most-popular drivers |
3.63%
|
|
Other |
3.50%
|
| Responses: 799 |
|
BEST OF THE REST
| Biggest challenge facing professional golf: |
|
Creating more interest outside the majors |
35.33%
|
|
Developing more widely known stars |
23.25%
|
|
Financial struggles in the financial and auto industries |
18.07%
|
|
Post-Northern Trust/AIG stigma about golf hospitality and sponsorship |
7.94%
|
|
Decline in endorsement opportunities |
6.90%
|
|
Television ratings |
4.72%
|
|
International growth |
1.73%
|
|
Other |
2.07%
|
| Responses: 869 |
| The biggest star at the 2010 Vancouver Games will be: |
|
Shaun White |
40.45%
|
|
Lindsey Vonn |
14.50%
|
|
Apolo Ohno |
12.85%
|
|
Gretchen Bleiler |
9.20%
|
| Responses: 848 |
| Sport with the biggest growth potential as a national property: |
|
Soccer |
47.47%
|
|
Lacrosse |
23.40%
|
|
Action sports |
16.99%
|
|
Poker |
12.15%
|
| Responses: 889 |
| Global property you would most want to be associated with: |
|
FIFA World Cup |
47.55%
|
|
Summer Olympics |
40.53%
|
|
Winter Olympics |
11.92%
|
| Responses: 898 |
|
| Will have the biggest impact on their organization: |
|
Gordon Smith (USTA) |
41.10%
|
|
Adam Helfant (ATP) |
37.64%
|
|
Stacey Allaster (WTA) |
21.25%
|
| Responses: 781 |
| Most progressive golf property: |
|
PGA Tour |
64.07%
|
|
European Tour |
11.51%
|
|
PGA of America |
10.23%
|
|
USGA |
7.44%
|
|
LPGA |
6.74%
|
| Responses: 860 |
| Most progressive tennis property: |
|
USTA |
44.69%
|
|
ATP |
35.46%
|
|
WTA |
19.85%
|
| Responses: 801 |
| Growth potential for action sports: |
|
Still room for growth |
55.05%
|
|
Has already peaked |
35.09%
|
|
Is on the decline |
9.86%
|
| Responses: 872 |
| Media company that will win the rights to the 2014 and 2016 Olympics: |
|
NBC Universal |
56.17%
|
|
ESPN/ABC |
32.17%
|
|
CBS |
5.94%
|
|
Comcast |
2.91%
|
|
Fox |
2.80%
|
| Responses: 892 |
| Should the U.S. Olympic Committee proceed with plans to start its own Olympic network? |
|
No |
57.44%
|
|
Yes |
29.56%
|
|
No opinion |
13.00%
|
| Responses: 900 |
| The U.S. Olympic Committee: |
|
Is poorly run and needs more organization |
42.38%
|
|
Could be doing much more with its assets |
41.28%
|
|
No opinion |
10.60%
|
|
Is a very effective and well-run organization |
5.74%
|
| Responses: 906 |
|
| League that has done the best job in controlling player costs: |
|
NHL |
28.66%
|
|
MLS |
28.18%
|
|
NFL |
26.42%
|
|
NBA |
13.09%
|
|
MLB |
3.66%
|
| Responses: 848 |
| Major sports property most likely to face a player strike or lockout: |
|
NFL |
58.10%
|
|
NBA |
21.79%
|
|
NHL |
9.17%
|
|
MLB |
8.45%
|
|
MLS |
2.50%
|
| Responses: 840 |
|
| Most effective talent agent: |
|
Scott Boras |
44.01%
|
|
Tom Condon |
12.10%
|
|
Drew Rosenhaus |
7.82%
|
|
Leigh Steinberg |
6.97%
|
|
Arn Tellem |
4.40%
|
| Responses: 818 |
|
