NBA Franchise Notes: Several Teams Facing Financial Crisis?
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Knicks Teaming With Costco
To Offer Ticket Discount |
In N.Y., Marc Bergman reports the Knicks, in "exploring untraditional avenues" to sell tickets in the current economy, have enlisted the assistance of Costco. Cardboard packages bearing the Knicks logo in Costco stores advertise 40% off "two tickets in the 300-level" at MSG. Customers "can bring the package to the register and receive a $70 Knicks card good for two seats for any game except for blackout dates," which include the November 25 game against the Cavaliers, the November 29 game against the Warriors, the December 28 game against the Nuggets and the January 4 game against the Celtics. MSG Senior VP/Sports Marketing Howard Jacobs: "With good seats at an affordable price, Costco serves as the perfect outlet" (N.Y. POST, 11/14). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Phil Mushnick notes during MSG Network's broadcast of Knicks-Grizzlies Wednesday "nearly every shot showed rows and rows of empty seats," and the "most expensive seats ... were almost vacant." An eyewitness estimated that "no more than 4,000" were in FedEx Forum for the game (N.Y. POST, 11/14).
DEEP SIXED: In Philadelphia, Paul Vigna noted the Sixers through four games are averaging 12,601 in attendance, ranking them 28th out of 30 teams in the NBA. Empty seats at the Wachovia Center "have been a chronic problem for the Sixers even before Allen Iverson left town," and now, "even off last season's playoff run and the offseason signing of Elton Brand, those low numbers are creeping back into the picture." Vigna: "That they started by losing five of their first seven hasn't helped. Neither did that shadow ... cast by the Phillies and their world championship" (PHILLY.com, 11/13).
TOP CAT: SI's Jack McCallum writes the relationship between the Bobcats and the team's fan base is "tenuous," and the attendance of 13,435 at last Friday night's Hornets-Bobcats game "carries with it the pointed adjective of announced." But NBA Commissioner David Stern said that he is "optimistic about the Bobcats' prospects, not least because [Bobcats Managing Member of Basketball Operations Michael] Jordan is 'deeply engaged.'" McCallum: "Perhaps Jordan will stick with it, viewing the Bobcats as a chance for redemption from his front-office failures" with the Wizards. Still, it is a "vast understatement to say that Jordan is an elusive face-of-the-franchise." Jordan has "final say on basketball decisions, but he does not do much in-person scouting, and rival executives routinely begin trade talks" with GM Rod Higgins. McCallum: "Jordan, in short, has no apparent concerns that as the franchise's Main Man he is perceived as a Shadow Man, a here-today-gone-tomorrow-might-be-back-the-next-day executive" (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, 11/17 issue).
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