USA TODAY's J. Michael Falgoust in a sports section cover story notes the defending NBA champion Mavericks have had “close to 100% renewal for about 15,000 season tickets” for the ’11-12 season. Mavericks Dir of Basketball Development Rolando Blackman said, “People are still in that honeymoon period. As I go into the community, they feel fantastic about the team.” While the Q rating “of most NBA players has leveled off or dropped precipitously since March,” Mavs F Dirk Nowitzki’s “jumped in September from 18 to 25, a 38.8% increase.” Falgoust notes it “probably has helped that Nowitzki hasn’t attended labor meetings or appeared in any photo-ops drawing attention to the lockout.” Meanwhile, unlike the Grizzlies, “who have laid off seven employees, the Mavericks have assured their staff that won’t happen" (USA TODAY, 11/1).
RAISING PRICES: In Cleveland, Joel Hammond notes with the "exception of the diamond box and left-field bleacher sections," the Indians have "raised prices 3% over 2010, the first time since 2008 the team has increased ticket prices." The team this year drew “1.84 million fans to Progressive Field, an increase of 32% over 2010’s 1.39 million.” Bleacher tickets “will remain at the $9 price the team installed last season in an effort to attract more fans to an area of the stadium the team felt would raise the energy level” (CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS, 10/31 issue).
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? In Sacramento, Dale Kasler noted NBA Kings investor Bob Cook “might be in danger of losing his stake in the team after filing for personal bankruptcy.” Cook, a part owner of the Kings since the '80s, "could surrender his 7 percent share of the team.” Court records show he “put up his Kings stake as security when he borrowed $10 million" from Omni Financial four years ago. Cook “defaulted on the debt, which now totals $13 million.” Kasler noted it is “unclear what will happen to Cook’s 7 percent stake in the team” (SACRAMENTO BEE, 10/29).
PAY TO PLAY: In K.C., Adam Teicher cited a source as saying that the Chiefs “are committed to spending $123 million in cash on player salaries and bonuses this year.” That number “will grow if the Chiefs sign one or both of their big looming free agents,” WR Dwayne Bowe and CB Brandon Carr, before the end of the season. Chiefs Chair & CEO Clark Hunt said, “The only guidance I give [GM Scott Pioli] is to manage the cap prudently. … He has a lot of leeway in free-agency to go get football players who can help us. I think he’s done a very good job.” The salary cap this year “is about $120.4 million” (K.C STAR, 10/29).
