Grizzlies' Lottery Success Prompts Increased Interest In Tickets
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Grizzlies' Jump To No. 2 Position In NBA
Draft Helping Team's Ticket Sales |
After the Grizzlies, who were "slotted sixth, jumped to the No. 2 position" in the June 25 NBA Draft as a result of Tuesday's lottery, the team's ticket sales staff was "more active Wednesday than in each of the past two years on the day following the draft lottery," according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. Grizzlies Owner Michael Heisley: "It's looking a lot better. I think people are excited about where we are, and where we can go with this pick." Grizzlies VP/Ticket Sales & Service Dennis O'Connor: "I wouldn't say we've got thousands of calls. But we've sold some [tickets] and we've renewed some seats. (Tuesday) night definitely added to the hope." Grizzlies execs said that season-ticket renewals are "up 15[%] from last year," while new sales have "doubled in that same span." Grizzlies Senior Dir of Marketing & Communications John Pugliese said a "lot of that has to do with the Pick N' Play promotion," which ties season-ticket prices to the team's lottery position. The promotion "sold out of its limited tickets, which was fewer than 500 seats." Pugliese said even before the promotion, "We were trending upwards anyway" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 5/21).
JUMP START: In L.A., Mark Medina notes NBA Draft prospect F Blake Griffin is "prominently displayed" on the Clippers' Web site in an attempt to "help ticket sales for next season." As a result, signs "suggest the Clippers won't use him as trade bait." Clippers GM and coach Mike Dunleavy: "Clearly, we're taking Blake Griffin" (L.A. TIMES, 5/21). But Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan said if Griffin was "smart, he would see if there’s a good Italian team ready." Ryan: "You don’t want to go to the Clippers. Did they get sold overnight? I don’t think so. Donald Sterling still owns them. … No good ever came to anybody being drafted No. 1 by the (L.A.) Clippers" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 5/20). ESPN's Michael Wilbon: "That franchise is inept. It is incompetent and that starts with the owner. … I feel sorry for Blake Griffin because that’s just a wasteland” (“PTI,” ESPN, 5/20). ESPN's Mike Greenberg: "Let’s all just offer our condolences to Blake Griffin ... who is now going to the NBA’s version of Siberia" ("Mike & Mike in the Morning," ESPN2, 5/20).
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