Stern Addresses Economy, Sonics In Extensive ESPN Podcast
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Stern Says He Does Not Think
NBA Can Return To Vancouver |
NBA Commissioner David Stern took part in the 100th podcast of "The B.S. Report" with ESPN's Bill Simmons, and when asked about whether he is worried about the economy and its possible impact on the league, Stern said, "My management style is characterized by worry." Stern: "We worry all the time. And we’re in, and getting deeper in, the worst economic times of probably almost 90% of the living people. So you worry about attendance. You worry about suites. You worry about club seats. You worry about sponsors. You worry about everything, and you work very hard to operate efficiently, give the best value that you can give, and hopefully managing to that time when all of this gets better, whenever that is." But Stern said he did not think that any franchises would fall into economic danger, because "we have a group of owners who are in pretty good shape financially and able to withstand periods of a down economy." Stern, when asked about the Sonics leaving Seattle, said, "The fact is that everyone agreed that a new arena was necessary. Exactly how it was going to get funded became an issue, and that issue became very contentious. ... I'm not thrilled about the outcome in Seattle." Stern said of Seattle possibly getting another NBA franchise, "I think that as the plans develop for a new arena -- and I’m sure there will be -- that likelihood increases. Although I don’t know that there’s an expansion coming anytime soon." Meanwhile, Stern said in hindsight, "I wish we hadn’t had the Vancouver experience." The Grizzlies played in Vancouver from '95-'01, and Stern said, "Great city. We disappointed them and we disappointed ourselves. I don’t think we can go back. It was a great city and I just think that we didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. ... That’s a great disappointment to me."
WHAT'S THE GAME PLAN? Stern also addressed the development of other pro sports leagues' networks, and said, "We hope to have a giant network, don’t get me wrong. NBA TV is something we’re working on with respect to its distribution. NBA.com is something which has enormous visits and huge video streaming counts. NBA League Pass is the same as its counterparts in other sports, and NBA Wireless is important to us. Collectively as NBA Digital, those are nested with Turner, which is in a profit-sharing arrangement with us but has so many other properties as well that it is able to more efficiently and I think at a lower cost do it. We just made the judgment that there was someone that was going to do it better than us and that it would be wise for us to put our corporate egos aside and do what was best for the long term” ("The B.S. Report," ESPN.com, 12/10).
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