Menu
Franchises

Bobcats Minority Owner Says Rebuild Is Tough, But Fans Still See Entertainment Value

Bobcats investor Andy Warlick understands that “few owners, fans, coaches or players like to purposely ‘rebuild’ a team,” but he has “heard nothing but positive feedback from the fans who do attend games, particularly in the entertainment value,” according to Richard Walker of the GASTON GAZETTE. Warlick said, “Nobody wants to hear it and it’s tough. It’s tough when you look at the marketing side. I can’t even imagine in my business doing this. I try to. It’s tough to say, ‘We’re going to take a step back,’ and then continue to be enthusiastic.” Warlick: “The quality control is good. Now the product needs to improve. And we’re going to work on that. But is it a fun event? Is it something you can bring your family to and have a good time? And I think we’re doing an exceptional job and I think our numbers would support that” (GASTON GAZETTE, 4/7).

ROUGH TIMES: In DC, Rick Maese wrote Bobcats Owner Michael Jordan is “the game’s greatest player,” but he has now “become one of its most curious owners, a fanatical competitor who can’t field a competitive team.” Former Bobcats head coach Sam Vincent said, “The work he put in to be a great player and the work you put in to be a great executive, those are different things. That additional time you spend on jump shots, running, dunking, I don’t know if he puts in that same amount of time as an executive or if he even cares to” (WASHINGTON POST, 4/8). In Charlotte, Scott Fowler noted he watched the Bobcats “in person for the first time in a few weeks Saturday night,” and was "struck by how far, far, far away the Bobcats are from being a legitimately good NBA team” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/9).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: May 8, 2024

Start your morning with Buzzcast with Austin Karp: The NFL sets a date for its 2024 schedule release, while also dropping hints that it could soon approve private equity investment in teams; WNBA teams finally land charter flights; the F1 Miami Grand Prix delivers a record on TV; and Elevate lands in Happy Valley.

Phoenix Mercury/NBC’s Cindy Brunson, NBA Media Deal, Network Upfronts

On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp chats with SBJ NBA writer Tom Friend about the pending NBA media Deal. Cindy Brunson of NBC and Phoenix Mercury is our Big Get this week. The sports broadcasting pioneer talks the upcoming WNBA season. Later in the show, SBJ media writer Mollie Cahillane gets us set for the upcoming network upfronts.

SBJ I Factor: Molly Mazzolini

SBJ I Factor features an interview with Molly Mazzolini. Elevate's Senior Operating Advisor – Design + Strategic Alliances chats with SBJ’s Ross Nethery about the power of taking chances. Mazzolini is a member of the SBJ Game Changers Class of 2016. She shares stories of her career including co-founding sports design consultancy Infinite Scale career journey and how a chance encounter while working at a stationery store launched her career in the sports industry. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/04/10/Franchises/Bobcats.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/04/10/Franchises/Bobcats.aspx

CLOSE