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NBA teams facing financial troubles?

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What might have been the biggest story of the week was right there on TV, Wednesday night, hiding in plain sight. Throughout MSG's telecast of Knicks at Memphis, nearly every shot showed rows and rows of empty seats. The most expensive seats, from courtside and roughly 25 rows up, were almost all vacant. The Grizzlies, since the Vancouver franchise was resettled in Memphis in 2001, have played to half-empty houses before, but nothing this bad. An eyewitness estimates that Wednesday no more than 4,000 were in the house. And ba-ba-baby, you ain't seen nothin' yet. In Sacramento, where the Kings would regularly sell out the 17,300-seat Arco Arena, the home opener was played to at least 5,000 empty seats - and attendance has fallen since. Indiana, Philly and Charlotte are way down, too. By late spring, you'll likely hear and read that a couple of NBA and NHL teams are close to suspending operations, unable to make rent and payroll, that corporations that bought arena naming rights and businesses that bought big-ticket advertising are behind in payments. There will be more layoffs than layups, more undertakers and no underwriters.

New York Post

O.J. Mayo, AP O.J. Mayo, AP
November 14, 2008  08:52 AM ET

They're using Memphis, Sacramento, Indiana, Philly, and Charlotte as examples for their story?

Inflammatory journalism.

November 14, 2008  08:52 AM ET

Lets analyze this-
the kings, Memphis, Indy, charlotte......
what do they have in common>>>>??????
-hmmmm-

THEY ALL SUCK.

people aren't stupid- especially when $$$ is tight at home
- if they were competetive- more people would come

November 14, 2008  09:00 AM ET

Don't worry the goverment will bail them out. Especially with a president that loves to play basketball, he isn't going to let them fail.

November 14, 2008  09:10 AM ET

This is not new. What was the original city for the Kings?. How long has Memphis been there? Teams have been moving because of financial problems for years. I don't think the league will let them shut down. Plus they will still owe player contracts.

November 14, 2008  09:21 AM ET

Memphis, Sacramento, and Charlotte are nothing new. Even before economic downturn they had low attendances. Philly's is just down due to early skepticism. If that team makes a run you can bet the seats will fill up in no time.

This is just the Post trying to make something out of a big nothing.

Comment #6 has been removed
November 14, 2008  10:00 AM ET

The TV deal and the shared revenue it generates keeps teams in business even if the gate is low. None of these teams will fold up shop because of empty seats. If the TV deals shrink because of a bad economy . . . then all bets are off.

November 14, 2008  10:20 AM ET

...don't forget new orleans, too...the city can't seem to support the team financially (its only about half the size it was before katrina) even tho' they are very good...i look for a team to move back to seattle in the future... and a team moving to vegas in the next couple of years..........

November 14, 2008  10:21 AM ET

...and Hova, you're right - philly ain't goin' nowhere.....

November 14, 2008  11:31 AM ET

No, but their fans are. The NBA has priced the average fan out of the building. Considering that the majority of the players come from U.S. inner cities, none of the kids that reside there can go see their home-grown superstars play unless they're given tickets. What a pity.

November 14, 2008  12:20 PM ET

The fact is, NBA games are too expensive, and the league is still rigged toward physical play (*koff koff* Celtics *koff koff*) and no skill. We're returning to the 90s Knicks-Rockets finals.. *yawn*.

Wake me when this "excitement" is all over - I just might tune in when the playoffs start in western conference..

November 14, 2008  12:22 PM ET

"The NBA - where overpriced tickets happen"

November 14, 2008  12:45 PM ET
QUOTE(#12):

and the league is still rigged toward physical play

huh?
it is absoulutely NOT 'rigged toward physical play'

Actually it is the opposite- which is why there are really
only a handful of dominant low-post centers.....
everyone is out shooting 3's

November 14, 2008  01:51 PM ET

So maybe if the Grizz didnt ship away Gasol people would still come. BUt i would still want to see Mayo and young Gasol play.

November 14, 2008  02:22 PM ET

These "teams" (Memphis, Charlotte, etc...) should be dissolved and the "players" they have worth calling NBA players should be sold to the highest bidder! I'm expecting the Knicks to bid for Adam Morrison! ADDDAM MORRRISSSON!!!

November 14, 2008  02:24 PM ET

This is why Buss said he would rather pay luxury tax than let go of Bryant and Jackson, and why they re-signed Bynum to a sizable contract. Outcome is they have raised ticket prices for three consecutive years. If you really think about it, the Staples center has same seats, same parking lot, same lights, same rims. Just a different Logo in the middle of the floor. And that is the Lakers Logo. Not the other team's.

November 14, 2008  03:02 PM ET

Lakers have sold out every game and their tickets are outrageous. Phoenix, Dallas, Boston, NYC, they don't have trouble putting butts in seats.

November 14, 2008  04:23 PM ET

why did they move the Grizzlies from Vancouver in the first place...if the ownership was serious about building a team, fans will come.

They gave up on Gasol...the Fans gave up on them.

November 14, 2008  08:43 PM ET

Spam X4............look to NASCAR.......get it?

 
November 14, 2008  08:59 PM ET

Lower the TICKET PRICES especially NOW with the ECONOMY>>>DAH

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