Celtics' On-Court Turnaround Boosts Attendance, Merchandise
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(l to r) Garnett, Allen And Pierce Helping Celtics
Post One Of Biggest Turnarounds In NBA History |
With the Celtics' record this season seeing the "biggest one-season turnaround in NBA history," the team sold out TD Banknorth Garden for all 41 home games, up from nine last season, and also led the league in road attendance, averaging 19,042 fans, according to Shira Springer in a front-page piece for the BOSTON GLOBE. The most recent NBA figures also show that the Celtics rank No. 1 in NBA team merchandise sales. During the regular season, Celtics F Kevin Garnett's No. 5 jersey was tops in the league, and during the playoffs "three of the top 15 most popular jerseys" belong to Garnett and teammates F Paul Pierce and G Ray Allen. However, NBA and Celtics sources said that because of the team's "immense payroll," it "probably will not begin to turn a profit unless" it makes it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Celtics CEO & Managing Partner Wyc Grousbeck said that someone last week "offered $600[M] for the team, but it is not for sale." Celtics Managing Partner Steve Pagliuca said, "Sports properties are not really bought on economics as investments." NBA Commissioner David Stern added, "This ownership group went all in. That's fun. It's not about a windfall profit. When owners sense a real opportunity, they do transformational things, knowing the riskiest part is that there can only be one champion." However, Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban said in an e-mail, "I love that [Grousbeck and Pagliuca] recognized the opportunity to lever up and do the trades, taking the financial responsibility. ... But only one team leaves the playoffs with a victory. Everyone else is tied for last place. So, until then, it's too early to be impressed" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/11).
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