Turnstile Tracker: Trail Blazers Up 23.0% In Attendance
Through December 3, NBA average attendance is down 4.6% from the same period a year ago. In the Western Conference, the Mavericks lead the conference with 20,212 fans per game, filling American Airlines Center to 105.1% capacity each night. The Trail Blazers are bringing fans back to the Rose Garden, with attendance up 23.0%. Last season's playoff successes for the Jazz and Warriors has also translated to success at the gate, as the franchises have seen increases of 6.6% and 10.1%, respectively, from the same point last season. The Target Center has felt the loss of Kevin Garnett, as attendance for the T'Wolves has been down 12.4%. The following presents NBA Western Conference attendance through December 3, with comparisons through the same period last year. See THE DAILY tomorrow for Eastern Conference attendance (THE DAILY).
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NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE THROUGH DECEMBER 3
|
|
TEAM
|
GMS
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
% CAP.
|
PREV.
|
% +/-
|
GMS ('06-07)
|
|
Mavericks
|
9
|
181,643
|
20,183
|
105.1%
|
20,212
|
-0.1%
|
9
|
|
Jazz
|
9
|
179,059
|
19,895
|
99.9%
|
18,670
|
6.6%
|
10
|
|
Warriors
|
8
|
155,262
|
19,408
|
99.0%
|
17,630
|
10.1%
|
13
|
|
Lakers
|
10
|
189,970
|
18,997
|
100.0%
|
18,997
|
0.0%
|
11
|
|
Trail Blazers
|
8
|
147,820
|
18,478
|
92.5%
|
15,026
|
23.0%
|
10
|
|
Spurs
|
10
|
184,413
|
18,441
|
98.1%
|
18,797
|
-1.9%
|
8
|
|
Suns
|
8
|
147,376
|
18,422
|
100.0%
|
18,422
|
0.0%
|
9
|
|
Rockets
|
7
|
127,570
|
18,224
|
101.3%
|
16,798
|
8.5%
|
8
|
|
Clippers
|
9
|
146,823
|
16,314
|
85.6%
|
17,791
|
-8.3%
|
10
|
|
Nuggets
|
10
|
162,752
|
16,275
|
85.2%
|
15,914
|
2.3%
|
8
|
|
T'Wolves
|
8
|
115,831
|
14,479
|
74.8%
|
16,519
|
-12.4%
|
7
|
|
Sonics
|
9
|
127,429
|
14,159
|
82.9%
|
15,567
|
-9.0%
|
9
|
|
Kings
|
9
|
123,810
|
13,757
|
79.4%
|
17,317
|
-20.6%
|
8
|
|
Grizzlies
|
9
|
118,927
|
13,214
|
72.9%
|
15,448
|
-14.5%
|
7
|
|
Hornets
|
8
|
92,570
|
11,571
|
60.4%
|
18,031
|
-35.8%
|
6
|
|
TOTALS
|
131
|
2,201,255
|
16,803
|
89.2%
|
17,409
|
-3.5%
|
133
|
|
NBA TOTALS
|
255
|
4,324,140
|
16,957
|
88.3%
|
17,773
|
-4.6%
|
246
|
SECOND THOUGHTS: In Oklahoma City, Darnell Mayberry reported the Hornets have a paid-attendance average of 11,571 through their first eight home games at New Orleans Arena, and "their full-time return to New Orleans is perhaps worse than anyone envisioned." Oklahoma City Exec Manager Tom Anderson said that the team "explored playing six regular season games" this season at the Ford Center, but the city "said no thanks." Anderson: "We felt we had established ourselves as a competitive NBA market. And we would not have had the chance of having any kind of ownership interest if they were just going to play six games here, so I think it would have been a pretty hard sell for the fans." However, Hornets Owner George Shinn and President of Business Operations Hugh Weber both "denied the franchise had any interest in six games in Oklahoma City" (DAILY OKLAHOMAN, 12/3).
THRICE AS NICE: The T'Wolves play host to the Celtics on February 8, which will mark this season's only return to the Target Center of Celtics F Kevin Garnett. In St. Paul, Brian Murphy reported fans wanting to see that game also "will have to purchase seats for two other games," as it is the only T'Wolves game this season "in which single-game seats are not being sold." The game is part of a three-game package that includes games against the Mavericks on January 6 and the Suns on January 23. The T'Wolves sold out their November 2 home opener against the Nuggets, but "have not been able to crack 16,000 in home attendance since," and two games have drawn less than 12,000 fans (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 12/1).
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