NBA Attendance down all over - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Reader comment on:
Empty Seats Threaten NBA's Future in New Orleans

Submitted by Don, Nov 23, 2007 01:22

Your article is fine, but I think you should have mentioned that it appears that attendance is down in the NBA as a whole. I've looked at pretty much at all the box scores this season, and there are some REAL stinkers in the attendance boat, not just the Hornets.

Memphis is not and has not drawn well in several years, and I have yet to hear a media guy say Memphis was a mistake for the NBA. Indiana played in front of 11,000 or so TO WATCH THE LAKERS.

Orlando, too, with a good team and a good record, plays in front of unimpressive crowds at home so far.

Sacramento drew just 13,000 the other night— Sacramento!! The Maloofs are rock stars in the Capital City.

I think the player scandals and the Las Vegas thing are hurting the NBA's image. There are other issues than just the economy in New Orleans that are relevant reasons why the pull at the gate is so poor here. There are league factors at play as well.

I'm from here, so I'll assume I know a little more about the situation (I'm not being obnoxious, it's probably true). It's not, I don't believe, the money. There are plenty of people here with the means and the capability to buy tickets and fill the Arena. Our population is spread around — across Lake Pontchartrain, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Baton Rouge.

And, there are still people here who are more concerned with rebuilding their house than having a seat at the Arena. That will change, as I believe the attendance situation will change. Will they ever be in the top 10? Probably not. But I think 15,500 a game is a realistic goal. Shinn has three corporate "champions," Cadbury Schweppes, Capital One, and Cox Communications. That's better than none. And, most of the suites are sold, giving Shinn a nice revenue stream.

Finally, waving the white flag simply is a self-fulfilling prophecy that I am unwilling to concede.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
I guess that is the most positive way too look at it. [MORE]	Marty	Nov 26, 2007 22:36
They could always move to Salt Lake City. Oh never mind we already know that City cant suport a team. [MORE]	cuncabo	Nov 26, 2007 16:07
At least we average at turnstile count in the 5 digits. Much more than good ol New Orleans. [MORE]	Alex	Nov 26, 2007 13:00
they only averaged a little over 13K. All that crap about selling out every game was crap. http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article.main&articleId=55421 [MORE]	Mo	Nov 24, 2007 21:25
You're right the actual butts in the seat average the second year in Oklahoma was somewhere between 13k and 14k.... [MORE]	Jon	Nov 24, 2007 22:44
First of all, the Hornets were already guaranteed to be going back to OKC so I'm surprised that they even... [MORE]	Anti HR.com guy	Nov 25, 2007 16:46
At the beginning of the last post, I meant to say that they were "guaranteed of going back to NEW... [MORE]	Anti HR.com guy	Nov 25, 2007 16:55
I'm tired of reading about OKC's "propped attendance" and "papering the house". The numbers being quoted are gate receipts, and... [MORE]	hoodoo	Dec 14, 2007 13:42
Give it up Okie. Hornets are not your team! Stop whining about them. [MORE]	Mo	Nov 24, 2007 20:28
I have no vested interest in seeing OKC get a team. It's just that it's so painfully obvious that it's... [MORE]	Anti HR.com guy	Nov 25, 2007 16:38
will reap what you sow. [MORE]	Mo	Nov 24, 2007 20:24
Don and Mo you are correct. NBA attendance is down but it seems New Orleans is the worst. Not to bag... [MORE]	MarkS	Nov 23, 2007 20:30
Sometimes what appears to be the right thing isn't.. Keeping the Hornets in Oklahoma City and promising New Orleans an... [MORE]	hoodoo	Nov 23, 2007 19:29
Let's give these people a chance. Half the media wants to relocate the Hornets out of New Orleans and we... [MORE]	Not Surprised	Nov 23, 2007 14:18
hollinger needs to stick to forecasting PERs. he just wants a rise out of us. [MORE]	robert	Nov 23, 2007 15:32
How much homework did you do? The New Orleans Arena holds 19K? News to me. Actually you are wrong. I could... [MORE]	Chris	Nov 23, 2007 14:02
Wow anybody who questions the ability of New Orleans to support this team obviously has no idea what they are... [MORE]	Jon	Nov 23, 2007 22:10
You can quote all those other single game low attendance games elsewhere but the Hornets only had 8,302 at a... [MORE]	Benjamin	Nov 24, 2007 01:27
I am so happy about this, the NO fans were so down on OKC and in such a hurry to... [MORE]	fernando	Nov 24, 2007 12:21
Chris Maybe you should do your own homework. No matter how much you defend your pathetic market, you won't be able... [MORE]	Anti HR.com guy	Nov 24, 2007 18:23
I was once a huge Charlotte Hornets fan. Up until George Shinn was accused of raping someone, and then tried... [MORE]	Jason Warren	Nov 25, 2007 15:24
No Don, he can't talk about how attendance is down all over because he's not watching any other team. Everyone... [MORE]	Mo	Nov 23, 2007 13:17
There are no quotes from anyone of importance in the league in this article that says the NBA's future in... [MORE]	Mo	Nov 23, 2007 13:07
As someone who lives in the Pacific NW watching the saga of the Seattle Sonics unfold, can't help but wonder... [MORE]	Martin	Nov 23, 2007 09:49
Shinn will never sell majority controlling interest in the Hornets. That's a big reason why they are still in New... [MORE]	Anti HR.com guy	Nov 25, 2007 16:53
Your article is fine, but I think you should have mentioned that it appears that attendance is down in the...	Don	Nov 23, 2007 01:22
And like the other poster mentioned, attendance is up in Atlanta, Denver, Orlando, Houston, Portland, and Golden State as well... [MORE]	Joe	Nov 24, 2007 18:29
Look at the whole picture here. NO is a small market vs a larger market team hense LA. If attendance... [MORE]	Bub	Dec 4, 2007 19:02

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