After making the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons, the Pistons this season "were profitable with an improving financial outlook," according to Bill Shea of CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS. At "their nadir a few years ago, the Pistons were generating about $600,000 per game compared to the NBA average of about" $1M. Now the team is "at about $750,000 per game," which represents about $6M in "new game-day revenue growth for the season." With merchandise and ancillary sales such as corporate sponsorships, the overall new revenue total "is likely higher." To boost revenue, the Pistons also will "continue to refine their use of dynamic ticket pricing." Attendance "improved modestly" this season to 16,515 per game, which "was an improvement of more than 1,200 per game over the previous season." Meanwhile, the team "has been adding about 1,000 season tickets since Tom Gores bought the club" in '11. This season the Pistons "were at 6,500 season tickets sold," and PS&E President & CEO Dennis Mannion "expects to hit 8,500 next season." Mannion also said that "more than 600 new full-season season tickets have been sold for next season," and the team's renewal rate for current season ticket holders "is tracking at more than" 90%. Mannion also said that merch sales "were up" 44% over last season. He "predicts more companies will want to sign on or extend their sponsorship deals with the Pistons for next season." Mannion: "I see that as a major, major growth area for us" (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 5/8).
