United Center crowds averaged 99.3% of capacity for Bulls games during the '17-18 seasonNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Bulls attendance has "remained consistently high" in the years since Michael Jordan left, and this season's 27-55 record "dampened enthusiasm only mildly," according to Phil Rosenthal of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. The Bulls "played before United Center crowds that averaged" 99.3% of capacity, and road attendance was 11th in the NBA, the first time since '08-09 the team has "fallen from the top 10." Local TV ratings for Bulls games on NBC Sports Chicago "dipped" just 10% from a 2.0 average to a 1.8, and Bulls merchandise sales on NBA.com "ranked No. 9 during the regular season." Rosenthal: "That says something extraordinary about the Bulls' aura and appeal and the allure of the NBA." Bulls and White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf said, "Every night the energy in the building is terrific. ... It's interesting because people used to say Chicago is not a basketball town." Reinsdorf added, "We've created this great environment, and we work hard at it. We don't just open the doors and expect people to come in." More Reinsdorf: "Years ago, I read an article about how people tend to want to do business with companies they like. I think the massive involvement both of my teams have in the community makes people like us. They know we're good citizens. We don't just want their money. We want to give back. ... We can't go too long without a real playoff team, but I see great things ahead of us" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/11).
