Sources Indicate Ratner Talked With Foreign Ownership Groups

Sources Say Ratner, Owners From Russia, Middle East Talked About Interest In Nets

PLAY-BY-PLAY: In N.Y., Michael O'Keeffe reports the Nets are "using a seat-filling service to draw potential ticket buyers" to Izod Center for Saturday's home opener against the Warriors. Nets VP/PR Barry Baum said that the team is using N.Y.-based Play-by-Play, a company that "fills unsold seats for sports and entertainment events, to generate leads for season-ticket sales." The Nets averaged 15,656 fans per game last season, good for 21st in the league, but Baum said that the situation is "not as dire as that number indicates -- the Nets were one of the few teams with 2,000-plus season-ticket sales in recent years." But O'Keeffe notes the team this year "lacks star power," and Ratner's "push to move the club to Brooklyn has soured the team's New Jersey fan base." O'Keeffe notes Play-by-Play "charges an annual $99 membership fee, plus an $8 processing fee. In return, members are offered almost complimentary tickets (there is a $3.50 per ticket handling fee) for Broadway shows, dance performances, concerts and ballgames -- events that look better to TV and live audiences with a full house." Play-by-Play Owner Hugh Hayes said that his company "has worked with every sports team in the New York area" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/29).

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