NBA Franchise Notes: Prokhorov May Not Get Nets Until March

Prokhorov May Not Take Control Of Nets Until March

In New Jersey, Al Iannazzone reports Mikhail Prokhorov's expected takeover of the Nets from Bruce Ratner "probably won't be until the very end of the first quarter" of this year. Sources indicated that Prokhorov "may not take control" of the NBA team until March, and it is "possible it could go into the second quarter, early April, depending on when everyone and everything is cleared from the Atlantic Yards site in Brooklyn." Prokhorov also still needs approval from the NBA BOG, "which could happen next month" (Bergen RECORD, 1/28).

THAT'S THE TICKET! The Cavaliers will become the first pro franchise to use a new dynamic ticket pricing product from Indianapolis-based pricing software developer Digonex Technologies Inc. The team next month will begin employing Digonex's Sports & Entertainment Analytical Ticketing System (SEATS), which analyzes sales data and provides price suggestions using dozens of parameters and data points, for select individual games at Quicken Loans Arena. Digonex launched SEATS in November, and the dynamic pricing product is a direct competitor to Qcue Inc., which works with the MLB Giants and Stars. "Our technology helps sports franchises stay in sync with an ever-changing marketplace and provides a fair-to-all pricing solution that benefits both sports teams and fans," said Jan Eglen, Digonex CEO (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).

CHECKING INTO THE GAME? In Toronto, Doug Smith reported the Raptors, NBA and Ontario government are "on the verge of allowing professional basketball to be part of the daily Pro-Line" gambling offerings. MLSE Exec VP & COO Tom Anselmi: "It's not done yet, but it will probably be done for next year, maybe this year's playoffs." Smith noted the NBA "originally ordered the province to drop NBA games from its daily offering on Pro-Line as a term of the franchise's expansion agreement with the Raptors." But Anselmi noted gambling on NBA games "happens in other provinces." When the Grizzlies left Vancouver, the NBA "went back on" B.C.'s Pro-Line game (TORONTO STAR, 1/27).

THE KINGS & I: The Kings on Tuesday announced an "exclusive new community-based leadership" organization called Kings 100. The group of 100 Sacramento-area community leaders is working to "continue garnering support in the region" for the NBA club (SACRAMENTO BEE, 1/27).