Myriad factors, including roster turnover, have led to the Grizzlies' attendance slideNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The Grizzlies drew 15,948 fans per home game in '17-18, meaning average attendance has "declined for a third straight season," according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. This year's number is down from 16,520 in '16-17 and 17,119 in '15-16. Several factors "contributed to the decline over the past several seasons." There have been two coaching changes, and some of the fans have "grown disenchanted" with GM Chris Wallace and the Grizzlies' front office. This season, injuries to key players such as G Mike Conley and F Chandler Parsons, as well as a "failed attempt to move [G] Tyreke Evans at the trade deadline," led to the Grizzlies "using an unusual number of different starting lineups." The overall negative trend in attendance "might not change unless the tanking Grizzlies select a highly rated player in the June draft." The team is "on pace to finish with the NBA's second-worst record and the chance to grab one of the top three picks." The team also has to decide "whether to remove the interim tag from coach J.B. Bickerstaff or hire a new coach." The ownership of the team still could "change hands this off-season" if Owner & Chair Robert Pera "decides to concede to limited partners in a buy/sell agreement." Pera "has final say" on whether he will buy out a limited partner or sell his controlling shares (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 4/8).
