Nets, Prudential Center Using Preseason Games To Expand Reach
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Nets Say Exposure,
Not Money, Is Goal |
The Nets tomorrow night will host the Knicks in their second preseason game at Newark's Prudential Center, "designed to showcase the 2-year-old facility and the team to new audiences," according to Peggy McGlone of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. Nearly 13,000 fans attended last Tuesday's game against the Celtics, and Devils co-Owner Michael Gilfillan said that "several thousand tickets have been sold" for tomorrow's game. Prudential Center officials indicated that "about 5,000 tickets for last week's game were distributed to community groups, schools and other local organizations by foundations and others who bought them," while another 2,100 were "purchased for $10, thanks to a special coupon distributed by the city of Newark." So with the "complimentary tickets handed out to sponsors," more than half of the 13,000 fans in attendance "watched the game from free or almost-free seats." But arena and Nets officials contend "exposure, not money, is the main goal" of the preseason games. Devils Senior VP & Chief Relationship Officer Leo Ehrline said, "We are building our brand. This is a beautiful building and it's great for our brand." McGlone notes while the Nets have "played preseason games elsewhere in the area, the games in Newark are creating special interest" in part because of speculation that these games are "some kind of audition to test fan interest in the team and professional basketball." The turnout at last week's game "doubled typical attendance at preseason games" at Izod Center, and Gilfillan said that the response shows Newark "has an appetite for basketball" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 10/20).
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