76ers CEO Adam Aron is "slowly trying to revive a fan base that has fallen off severely" since former NBAer Allen Iverson first left the team in '06, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com. The team's attendance "plummeted" from an average of 20,560 in '01-02, the year after the club's latest NBA Finals appearance, to 14,200 in '10. TV ratings have been "on a 10-year slide as well." With the Phillies "becoming a World Series contender and champion, and the Eagles a perennial playoff team, and the Flyers always having a rabid fan base" the Sixers had a "brand problem." Aron said, "When we bought the team, we knew the 76ers had attendance issues." Aldridge noted the 76ers, who lead the Atlantic Division with a 15-6 record, have sold "more than $1 million in ticket sales each of the last three weeks, and are on pace for ticket sales this season -- in 33 home games -- to exceed ticket sales last season in 41 home games." The team claims it is "selling 4,000 tickets a day," and its average attendance of 14,614 per game ranks 23rd in the league. Comcast SportsNet ratings are "up to an average 2.5 rating locally, up from a 1.6 average rating last season." 76ers Senior VP/Business Operations Lara Price: "In Philadelphia, I don't think it's lack of interest. You have to have that connection with them, and you have to have that interaction with them. And the thing I've noticed is that Adam has connected with them the way [former 76ers President] Pat [Croce] did -- emotionally -- with them. And they feel like he's listening." Aldridge noted the current ownership group's underpinnings "came from simple pledges they made to fans." They promised to "put a winning team on the court," embrace the team's heritage and boost the "fans' in-game experience." They would also pledged to "increase the team's marketing efforts with a trio of television ads featuring" coach Doug Collins, the current team and the franchise's history (NBA.com, 1/30). The AP's Dan Gelston wrote for the "first time since Allen Iverson was in his prime, there is a reason to love" the 76ers. Of all the "new touches around the 76ers this season, the biggest one is this: They're winning" (AP, 1/29).
