The Bobcats are offering a season-ticket plan where fans can “buy next season’s games and get the 2013-14 season for free,” according to Rick Bonnell of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. The team has made a "couple hundred of upper-level seats at Time Warner Cable Arena available with this offer." The cost is $752.50 for next season, which "works out to $17.50 per game” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/1). BUSINESSINSIDER.com's Nicholas Schwartz noted even if a fan only went to "marquee games against the top four teams in each conference, over the course of two years you would be paying" less than $30 per game. Schwartz: "For some perspective, fans have to put down a $100 deposit just to get on the waiting list for Los Angeles Lakers season tickets, with no guarantee of actually getting them" (BUSINESSINSIDER.com, 5/31). ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said, “This is a Jos. A. Bank suit deal. I’ve never heard of this in pro sports.” Kornheiser asked, “How do they pay the salaries of their players if they have no income coming in the door?” ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said, “I don’t get it. If you get Anthony Davis, you get the hope of people rushing to buy tickets, you get sponsorship deals, your media rights are worth more.” Wilbon said of giving free tickets, “Can’t be good. Never heard of it” (“PTI,” ESPN, 5/31).
