Warriors President & COO Rick Welts said having fans in attendance next season is "going to be out of our control," but the team is "proceeding as if we are," according to Jim Harrington of the San Jose MERCURY NEWS. Welts added the NBA's business model "doesn’t work without live audiences." He continued, "Our business model is tied directly to player compensation, not like the other leagues. So, I think we have a natural common interest with the players to figure out a way to make that happen. Our economic system is a 50-50 partnership with the players -- half of every dollar that comes in is paid out in player salaries. ... The rise of player salaries mirrors the economic success of the industry -- and I think (NBA commissioner) Adam Silver has estimated 40 percent of that comes from having people in the stands. So, the players as well as the league have a real economic interest." Welts said that Silver in an interview before the NBA lottery "said some important things." Welts: "He said we’re planning to play 82 games next season, we are planning to try to play them in front of fans, and we’re probably not going to start (as once planned) on Dec. 1." He added, "What will trump all that is safety, right? We have to be able to create an environment that we’re convinced is 100 percent safe" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 9/1).
