The Knicks last month partnered with marketing agency Translation to "help elevate the team's overall brand positioning and connection to its fan base," a move that was a "rare acknowledgement by the Knicks that they may be losing clout," according to Sopan Deb of the N.Y. TIMES. Just across the Brooklyn Bridge, the Nets are "primed to pick off some of the Knicks' loyal fans." Translation Founder & CEO Steve Stoute's goal is to "play prevent defense in the marketing sphere." He convinced the Knicks execs that the team "could do more to connect with fans." Stoute was vague about his plans, but "suggested that a change in social media strategy was coming." He "dismissed any notion that the Knicks have a culture problem." According to ESPN, the Knicks sell an average of 95.1% of their home seats. This number has "declined every year" since '16, when it was 100%. In contrast, the Nets have risen from 83.6% in '16 to 92.7% this season. Stoute "seemed to be keenly aware of the fan antipathy" towards Knicks Owner James Dolan. However, he said, "The one thing I would want if I was any sports fan: Is your owner aggressively willing to spend to put winning on the court? Forget the outcome. Is the owner's mind-set aggressive at winning? We've got that" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/9).
TO DO LIST: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote CAA's Leon Rose, who is set to become Knicks President of Basketball Operations, has a "few things to sell -- hope, his own set of unique skills, the management team he surrounds himself with and a new Knicks coach." Raissman: "Will Rose be a vocal front man, something the Knicks really need?" From the onset, Rose must "buy time with media and fans, time to let his rebuilding plan breathe and get off the ground sans controversy" while he develops the Knicks roster. It is "on Rose now." Raissman: "This will not be easy" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/9).
