Pacers Co-Owner Simon Says Team Is In Tough Financial Situation
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Simon Says Pacers' Fan Base
Has Deteriorated In Recent Years |
The Pacers' bottom line "isn't very good," as Pacers co-Owner Herb Simon described the team's financial situation as "tough, very tough," according to Bob Kravitz of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Simon: "We're not crying poverty, although if you really want to get down to it, it's become a burden. I don't want this to sound like woe is me." Simon added, "The last three or four years have been disasters, and generally speaking, you can almost pinpoint it from the (brawl) game in Detroit. Not only has our fan base deteriorated but our financial condition has, too." Simon indicated that the Pacers can stay in Indianapolis "in the long term without a new lease deal" at Conseco Fieldhouse. But he added, "Is it prudent to stay if economic conditions keep deteriorating? No. ... We're here, not to keep the team here for as long as I can afford it, but to keep the team here even after someone else ... takes over this team." Kravitz noted Indianapolis' Capital Improvement Board, which oversees Conseco Fieldhouse, already has said that it "will take on $15[M] this year, which is roughly the amount of money it costs the Pacers to operate" the arena. Meanwhile, the Pacers this season "have enjoyed a modest but notable increase" in single-game ticket sales, averaging 1,328 per game through 21 games, "along with increases in group sales, 11-game plans and mini-plans" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/1).
IMPENDING GRIEVANCE: The NBPA in the next week is expected to file a grievance against the Pacers on behalf of locked-out G Jamaal Tinsley, who was banished from the team in October. Tinsley's agent, Raymond Brothers, said that he wants the team to "trade Tinsley, buy out his contract or waive him." The trade deadline is February 19. Brothers: "We've tried to deal with the Pacers in a professional manner, but it's gotten us nowhere" (INDYSTAR.com, 2/3). Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird said Monday that a trade "remains a possibility and that he is talking with several teams." He added, "We're not bringing him back. Our owner made that clear" (ESPN.com, 2/3).
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