The Heat are "interested in returning to the KFC Yum Center for a preseason game" ahead of the '15-16 season and other teams have "expressed interest after the success" of the Oct. 4 exhibition game between the Heat and Pelicans, according to Sebastian Kitchen of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. More than 21,000 people "attended the game" and 81% of those "were from Louisville and south Indiana." Yum Center Marketing Dir Sandra Moran said that the game "was one of the highest-selling preseason games in the history of the league" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 11/11). In Louisville, Caitlin Bowling noted Yum Center officials for the Oct. 4 game "brought in not only the team but the team's mascot and deejay." Arena officials also are "in talks with the WNBA about possibly hosting a game" in '15 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/10).
A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS: In Jacksonville, Andrew Thurlow noted a Wizards-Pelicans exhibition game whose "proceeds were slated to go to the city's military trust fund netted $1,462," while "sponsorship dollars from Jacksonville's independent authorities stopping the event from losing money." The Oct. 8 exhibition at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena "cost $345,519." Ticket sales "generated $167,289, and sponsorships brought in $138,000." For this year's game, 5,467 tickets "were sold and 2,265" were complimentary. Total attendance "was 6,615," a more than 18% drop from '13. Jacksonville Sports & Entertainment Officer Dave Herrell said that the event "helped the city deepen its relationship with the NBA" (JACKSONVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/7 issue).
