Nets' Business Operations Rolling As Team's Ticket Revenue, Merchandise Sales Rise

The Nets "are still big winners on the bottom line" despite their playoff elimination, as the team's ticket prices "have risen significantly -- and fans paid them," according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. In '11-12, the team's last year in New Jersey, the Nets were "27th in the league in ticket revenue." But a source said that this year, the Nets are "at No. 5." The team "sold 4,000 'All-Access' seats on three-year contracts when the Barclays Center opened last season" and has "already extended 1,500 of those contracts beyond the original end date." The team also has "virtually maxed out the prime revenue-generating suite areas." Only 2% of suites "were unsold for Nets games this season," down from 8% in the Nets' debut season in Barclays Center. In '11-12, the Nets "finished dead last in the league in merchandise sales," but they will "finish seventh this season" (ESPN.com, 5/15).