Originally Posted by
JGib23
@Adam- great post.
Here's the crux of the issue.
The Bobcats themselves realize there is at least a good chance they can get more fans and make more money as the Charlotte Hornets than they can as the Charlotte Bobcats. As a result, they are investigating changing the name back.
You mention the 2k new season ticket holders and I think that is great that the team was able to attract 2k new STH after the worst season in NBA history.
Now let's look at the other side of the coin:
1. How many season ticket holders did they lose?
2. Are the new season ticket holders more profitable than the ones they lost?
2a. They offered season tickets for $2 per game- how many "new" season ticket holders spent $84 on an entire season of tickets with the intention of making money by selling the Lakers and Heat games?
2b. They offered buy one get one free season tickets.
What we really need to know is what is the net effect on attendance?
Has this influx of new season ticket holders made any impact on the gate?
Has having the #2 overall pick and rookie of the month and already matching last years win total made more people come to Bobcats games?
The answer is pretty much NO
2012 attendance for the worst team in NBA history = 14,757
2013 attendance with 2,000 new STH and an arena full of Knicks fans 14,978
So all of that momentum of a great up and coming team, giving away free tickets to everyone in attendance because Kemba Walker hit a 3 pointer in the 4th quarter of a game, selling $2 season tickets and buy one get one free tickets has resulted in a net gain of 221 fans per night.
Do you think that's a sustainable business model?
It's really simple- the Bobcats are investigating a name change because they need to know if they can improve attendance and revenue because their other efforts haven't yielded great results.
The answer