NBA Summer League co-Founder & VP/Business Operations Albert Hall said that ticket sales for the July 6-17 games in Las Vegas are up 5-8% "over this time last year." In Las Vegas, Mark Anderson notes this comes after a "star-studded draft class" last year "sparked record-breaking crowds" for the '17 Summer League. This year marks the "first time all 30 teams will take part, which helps drive sales." Hall said that he "expected every first-round draft pick to participate." The '17 Summer League "drew an announced record of 127,843 fans over 11 days last year to see 24 teams take part" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/26).
WINDING DOWN: The AP's Ronald Blum noted spending on signing bonuses for MLB's international amateur free agents dropped 25% to $153M from $203M in the "first year of restraints." Under the CBA, spending was capped "beginning with the signing period from last July 2 through June 15." Under the new rules, international amateurs were "redefined as under 25 years old and with less than six years of professional experience, up from 23 years old and less than five years of experience." Spending on international amateurs had increased from $74M in '12-13 to $156M in '15-16 (AP, 6/25).
DYNASTIC CYCLE: In Minneapolis, Chip Scoggins writes the NBA's history is "built upon dynasties," but that is the "crux of negative perceptions" about the league now. The most recent NBA Finals were "less satisfying" than some in years past. However, the league "isn’t broken ... or ruined by superteams, a narrative that continues to be voiced with the Warriors’ inevitable repeat as champions and anticipation of more star shopping this offseason." Stripping away "predictability as a result of stars joining forces doesn’t make the product less interesting." It is "just a matter of taste and preference." NBA ratings "continue to be robust, even as critics bash the league’s lack of suspense, because stars are attractive to audiences who enjoy story lines and basketball being played at the highest level" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/26).
