Recently in Basketball Category
University of Memphis men's basketball season-ticket holders will receive information this week about the new Tiger Scholarship Fund's Per-Seat Donation program. This program will "require fans to make a minimum annual donation to keep their season-ticket location from one year to the next" according to a front page article written by Jim Masilak of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The New York Knicks were unable to reach a buyout with Stephon Marbury today. Marbury, and his lawyers met with New York Knicks GM Donnie Walsh in an attempt to buy out the remainder of Marburys contract. The point guard is not in the teams future plans and is considered a "distraction." Marbury is set to earn 21 million dollars this year, which is the final year of his contract. Since the Knicks do not want anything to do with the player, they told him to "stay away" from the team until they can figure out a way to get rid of him, whether it be via buyout, release of trade.
Perhaps the greatest college basketball coach ever, Bobby Knight, has took up a new challenge at the end of last year after his resignation from coaching. When his time at texas Tech came to an end, ESPN was quick to jump for the famed coach. He was used significantly in the postseason league championships and NCAA tournament coverage. This year his role will increase to include Thursday night contests, Sportscenter apperances, postseason analysis, and ESPN Radio coverage.
I think that as a coach Knight had his own way of doing things. This is true with sportscasting as well, but like in coaching, perhaps a different way will succeed. His three national championships are an example of how his different style works, and possibly ratings an increase with this different style of broadcasting.
Baron Davis, Los Angeles Clippers point guard recently signed a 5 year contract with apparel company Li-Ning in China, writes Sports Business Journal. He plans on creating his own line of shoes and clothing to be sold initially to only the Chinese consumers. Eventually the line could make it to the United States. Li-Ning is trying to approach the American market slowly by using a star in American society like Baron Davis. The 5 year deal Davis has with Li-Ning is supposedly the largest deal by a non-Chinese person with a Chinese company. Davis has already filmed commercials to be showed in China. In past years, Davis had endorsed Reebok, but that contract ended over the summer. The new contract with Li-Ning should be a huge success in China. Davis is not the only NBA player to sign with Chinese companies. Stars such as Jason Kidd and Shaquille O'Neal have contracts of their own with companies like Peak and Li-Ning. Who knows how many American athletes will soon be part of the Chinese Market.
The American market has been decreasing recently. With better opportunities for endorsements in China, more American athletes are bound to go international. Endorsements in China should create a much higher awareness of American athletes, resulting in a great increase in the American sports industry market. Not only will international endorsements help, but lately American professional sports leagues have been traveling across the seas quite a bit. International experience is a key towards future success.
Chris Granger, NBA senior vice president of team marketing and business operations was asked questions about ticket values, how teams are doing with the downward economy, how teams doing business differently, and if there seems to be any challenges that have been face along the way. When asked about the strategy that the NBA has towards the limit of season ticket base Granger replies by saying that it's all about value, that would be a way to increase the number of new ticket buyers and keep recent ticket buyers. He also said that this strategy has been very effective.
I believe this is good. Even though I'm not a big fan of the NBA or even basketball this will be good for the organization if they can bring in new ticket holders and keep old ticket holders with the increase of a little extra value with the tickets. Teams might be doing things differently than they have done in previous years because the economy has gotten worse than it has say about a couple or so years ago. Hopefully there's a good if not great turn-around for the NBA from this new added value to ticket sales.
Read more.......http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/60466
The NBA is going through an "up-down" situation in response to their season ticket holding sales. The economic downturn is lowering the average renewal rate, as it has dropped to 80 percent compared with 84 percent to date last year. However, their is 11 teams over 10,000 season ticket holders compared to 10 teams last year. The Utah Jazz has 14,000 and The Los Angeles Lakers are second with less than14,000 full-season tickets sold. The Oklahoma City Thunder sold nearly 13,000, while the Golden State Warriors have sold more than 12,000. The biggest increase in season ticket sales goes to the Blazers and Hornets adding over 3,500 tickets for the season. The Lakers a high season-ticket retention rate, renewing at a 99 percent rate. Next are the Celtics at 97%. But to other teams, ticket rates are being dropped because of the failing economy. After the first and second payments, these tickets are etting dropped because of the money. A m
ain ticket base shrink is the Miami Heat, which was among the leaders in season-ticket sales years before. This can be accountable due to the terrible economy in South Florida or the 67 lossed the Heat indured last year. Their are positives but many negatives in this years ticket situation.
http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/60465
I love the NBA and its fan base. But to see season ticket sales to be dropping because of the failing economic crisis is heart breaking. Sports, especially basketball, is a safe haven for many people during times of high stress and money situations. If these sporting events just add to stress and increase money problems, the sport will be doomed. It is clear and is understandable that the Blazers and the Hornets are increasing sales due to their rising team status. It is also acceptable to see that the Heat is losing ticket sales. It is crazy however to see how Miami was just a couple years ago and its fan base, to now which is very bleak. Yes; there are a lot more problems that need to be fixed with this economy. But sports are important to and this ticket crisis must be figured out in order for our society to stay uplifted. Money is money and the NBA will move on, but in losing fans because of money is just not right.
The new NBA season has just recently begun and ticket sales are already being compared to those of last season. With a new season comes new revenue. Our nations economic situation is impacting the amount of people who have used the renewal policy on their season tickets. Although the dropoff is only 4% it is still costing teams money losing season ticket holders. On a positive note the league has 11 teams this year with over 10,000 season tickets sold which tops lasts years total. The Lakers and the Jazz are the two teams that skyrocket at the top of the list selling over 14,000 seats to faithful fans. The Lakers faithful seem to come in stong every year with a 99% renewal rate showing strong support for Kobe and the boys. The Miama Heat on the other hand have had a huge fall off which is credited to bad weather in the south as well as a drop off in the teams performance. Overall with the economic situation of the US the NBA isn't in such a bad spot right now. Miami was in the top of season ticket sales and after the past years of the teams terrible performance, that number is steadily going down.
The man who is responsible for the acquisitions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen has been promoted to the president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics. Since Ainge
helped bring in Garnett and Allen the Celtics have won their 17th NBA Title. Not only did Danny Ainge help bring the Celtics to the NBA Championship Series in 2008, as a player of the Boston Celtics he traveled to four NBA Championship Series. Out of those four years the Celtics won the title twice, in 1984 and 1986. It is little to say that Mr. Ainge has been a pivotal piece of the Celtics organization for over 20 years now. A well deserving canidate for the job, Ainge was promoted to president of basketball operations for the Celtics from being the teams executive director of basketball operations and GM. Ainge, last season's NBA executive of the year, is in his sixth season at the helm of the Celtics' basketball operations. The details of Ainge's new contract have not yet been disclosed to the media at this point but, the new NBA season is starting for the Celtics very soon and more detail will emerge on the terms of the contract.
With the season finally here, the NBA has prepared promotoinal ideas to jump start the 2008-2009 season. The NBA is teaming up with Kia to create a fan fest in New York City's Union Square. The event will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, October 28th, which is opening day of the NBA season. They plan to attract fans by bringing in former NBA stars and current New York Knick players, as well as having a full basketball court with entertainment. This first time event should get the NBA going for a great season. According to Sports Business Journal, Kia will promote Tip Off Week at all of it's 640 dealerships throughout the nation. They will have NBA-branded Kia Borregos in all 30 NBA markets, where giveaways will also take place. 2008 will be Kia's first full year of partnership with the NBA. The NBA will have several other Tip Off Week sponsors to continue traditions from previous seasons. None, however will be as big as the Kia sponsorship.
The NBA deal with Kia is a great way to get fans involved this season, and will definitely increase the Kia sales. The advertisement Kia is recieving through the NBA will be a nice bonus for their marketing department. The NBA attracts many people, and if people see Kia working with the NBA, they are bound to think again before buying a Toyota.
