In Tampa, Greg Auman reports there is "significant demand" on the secondary ticket market for the Patriots' first game there in 20 years. Tickets for the Week 5 Pats-Buccaneers game on Thursday, Oct. 5, are "selling for a minimum" of $163 on StubHub and $165 on SeatGeek, "nearly double the asking price for any of the other seven home games." Pats coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady have "never faced the Bucs in Tampa" (TAMPABAY.com, 7/19).
EYE OF THE STORM: In Raleigh, Abbie Bennett notes the Hurricanes have seen a "serious dip in home attendance" over the last 10 years. Attendance during that time has dropped 32%, with capacity at PNC Arena at just 64%. Fans took to social media yesterday to "complain of ticket and parking prices, attributing increasing costs, at least in part, to lower turnout" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 7/19).
|
HURRICANES ATTENDANCE OVER LAST 10 YEARS
|
|
SEASON
|
GAMES
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
|
'16-17
|
41
|
482,829
|
11,776
|
|
'15-16
|
41
|
500,363
|
12,204
|
|
'14-15
|
41
|
521,375
|
12,716
|
|
'13-14
|
41
|
634,831
|
15,484
|
|
'12-13 (season began in January after lockout)
|
24
|
421,451
|
17,560
|
|
'11-12
|
41
|
657,747
|
16,042
|
|
'10-11
|
40
|
656,611
|
16,415
|
|
'09-10
|
41
|
624,873
|
15,241
|
|
'08-09
|
41
|
679,488
|
16,573
|
|
'07-08
|
41
|
681,962
|
16,633
|
FRESH PERSPECTIVE: THE RINGER's Juliet Litman wrote under the header, "We Have A New Great American Bard, and His Name Is Rob Pelinka." Every press conference with the Lakers’ new GM is "must-see viewing." Pelinka was a "master agent and a veteran of the league, but every public address he has delivered in an official team capacity has been absolutely devoid of cynicism and jadedness." Litman: "He is out here trying to turn basketball atheists into Lakers believers, and if you ask me, it’s working" (THERINGER.com, 7/18).
BOSTON TO BEIJING: In Boston, Henry Brechter reports the Bruins will "continue efforts to expand their brand globally by sending select players and representatives on a 10-day trip to China" from July 23-Aug. 3. Team reps will "host youth clinics and help open a state-of-the-art ice rink." Bruins D Torey Krug, G Tuukka Rask, RW David Pastrnak and former NHLer Hal Gill are "among those scheduled to make the trip" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/19).
