The Knicks' season-ticket renewal rate for full plans "registered at 95%," a "sizable jump from two years ago, when the number floundered at 89%," according to Marc Berman of the N.Y. POST. The uptick "might be due to March 1 being the first renewal installment with no refunds -- four months before" the start of free agency. Last offseason, the renewal rate "also hit 95%." A "limited number of partial plans and full plans are still available, as well as individual and group tickets." The Knicks finished last year with a league-worst 17-65 record, yet "finished ninth in the NBA in attendance at 19,002." By comparison, the 42-40 Nets "finished last in attendance at 14,941, but that figure should climb" after the addition of of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. MSG has "thus far remained mostly full despite six straight non-playoff seasons" for the Knicks (N.Y. POST, 9/25).
BROOKLYN RESURGENCE: On Long Island, Barbara Barker writes the Nets' upcoming season "could be the one where the team breaks through." The Nets have a "young, talented core, big-name stars, solid management and unlimited aspirations." That "won't be enough to dethrone the Knicks as the most popular team" in N.Y., but it "doesn't have to be." Nets GM Sean Marks said, "We've never been focused on winning over New York, or even being the team in New York. We've got different goals than that. I think if you go out and build something that's sustainable, you put an entertaining group on the floor that’s passionate and competes every night, people will automatically gravitate toward that" (NEWSDAY, 9/25).
