duncan228
11-03-2008, 12:38 PM
New Spurs executive not waiting for fiscal rebound (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2008/11/03/story2.html?b=1225688400^1725404&page=1)
San Antonio Business Journal
by W. Scott Bailey
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed a gathering of San Antonio business leaders recently that his league would not be immune to the ills of a national economic crisis. That revelation all but ensured that the NBA would launch its 2008-09 season with similar uncertainties.
The challenge has not been lost on Frank Miceli, the newly hired senior vice president of marketing for the San Antonio Spurs. He says the Spurs are going to have to step outside the comfort zone of familiarity and be more creative in their effort to score more fans.
The nation’s economic problems have already impacted the NBA. League Commissioner David Stern says the NBA is trimming roughly 9 percent of its front office staff.
There are also concerns about a leaguewide decline in new season ticket sales and renewals. In Sacramento, for example, where the NBA’s Kings have long enjoyed a large and loyal fan base, the team’s season ticket base has reportedly dropped to roughly 6,000.
The Spurs say they expect their season ticket count will wind up in the 10,000 to 12,000 range. And while a team official says the Spurs have signed up more than 1,400 new season ticket holders for 2008-09, that same official says a larger number of fans than in past years has canceled their season tickets.
Miceli arrived in San Antonio from Philadelphia only days before the Spurs tipped off their regular season at home against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 29. He takes on the task of trying to fill seats for basketball games at a time when economic uncertainties threaten to further impact consumer earning and spending in San Antonio and across the U.S.
Miceli acknowledges that there is room for improvement and the need to be proactive in selling San Antonio on the Spurs at a time when sellouts are less of a guarantee than in years past.
“Right now, I’m in heavy assessment mode — on all levels,” Miceli explains.
That assessment, he says, will include a good, hard look at staff interaction, organizational strategies and the total in-game and even post-game experience fans are getting in San Antonio.
Value added
The NBA was already dealing with some attendance concerns last season. Of the league’s 30 teams, 15 saw their turnstile numbers decline in 2007-08 compared to the previous season. Those 15 teams combined to draw 870,000-plus fewer fans last season than in 2006-07.
The Spurs were one of those 15 teams that saw attendance dip last season. San Antonio ranked 9th in the NBA in attendance in 2007-08 and 13th last season. A number of NBA teams are addressing attendance concerns with discounted or complimentary tickets.
The Indiana Pacers threw in free tickets to pre-season games this fall as a perk for season ticket holders.
In New Jersey, the Nets have offered season ticket purchasers an opportunity to put off payments until early next year. The team is also reportedly delaying construction of a new arena in Brooklyn because of the financial uncertainties.
The Charlotte Bobcats are marketing a six-game “Tipoff” ticket package. The offer includes complimentary tickets to the team’s home opener against Miami.
Ten times this season, the Dallas Mavericks are discounting the price of their least expensive seats from $9 to $2.
Miceli says teams need to come up with more bang for the buck. He says the Spurs will explore ways to give fans something extra.
For starters, the Spurs are staging a series of free post-game concerts on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays featuring local and regional acts.
“In this business, because we rely so much on discretionary income, that value proposition just becomes a little more important when the economy takes a dip,” Miceli says.
Spurs Sports & Entertainment President Rick Pych says Miceli has the track record to step in and have a real impact on the organization’s flagship franchise.
“Frank is a very highly regarded and accomplished leader in the sports and entertainment industry,” says Pych adds.
Sky is falling
The NFL’s Goodell says professional sports are “absolutely not” immune to the economic crisis.
“We are impacted,” he says. “We need to look at how we manage our business just like everyone else.
“We all are feeling the pinch, some more than others,” Goodell adds. “It’s something we need to be very sensitive to. We want to come through this and be stronger at the other end of the tunnel.”
Miceli agrees.
“I’m walking into an incredible organization that has built something pretty special,” he says. “But maybe we are a diamond that needs to be polished a little bit more.”
Says Miceli, “Maybe we’ve been a victim of our own success and people are expecting the same thing. We’ve got to deliver something different.”
One thing Miceli would like to deliver is a game plan that helps grow the Spurs’ television and arena audiences.
“What are we not doing to get more people? Finding that out is certainly a top priority,” Miceli says, adding, “Can we do a better job in the Hispanic market? Perhaps.”
What Miceli doesn’t want to see is fan erosion, a challenge nearly every team faces at some point. Such erosion could be compounded by the ongoing economic uncertainties.
“The challenge right now is pretty similar across the country in any sport and any business,” Miceli says. “It’s the economy. If enough people say the sky is falling, then the sky must be falling. I think you have to deal with that. It’s still about discretionary income.”
Miceli says his immediate game plan is simple.
“We have to be smart,” he says. “We have to look at everything. We have to be open to new ideas.”
San Antonio Business Journal
by W. Scott Bailey
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed a gathering of San Antonio business leaders recently that his league would not be immune to the ills of a national economic crisis. That revelation all but ensured that the NBA would launch its 2008-09 season with similar uncertainties.
The challenge has not been lost on Frank Miceli, the newly hired senior vice president of marketing for the San Antonio Spurs. He says the Spurs are going to have to step outside the comfort zone of familiarity and be more creative in their effort to score more fans.
The nation’s economic problems have already impacted the NBA. League Commissioner David Stern says the NBA is trimming roughly 9 percent of its front office staff.
There are also concerns about a leaguewide decline in new season ticket sales and renewals. In Sacramento, for example, where the NBA’s Kings have long enjoyed a large and loyal fan base, the team’s season ticket base has reportedly dropped to roughly 6,000.
The Spurs say they expect their season ticket count will wind up in the 10,000 to 12,000 range. And while a team official says the Spurs have signed up more than 1,400 new season ticket holders for 2008-09, that same official says a larger number of fans than in past years has canceled their season tickets.
Miceli arrived in San Antonio from Philadelphia only days before the Spurs tipped off their regular season at home against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 29. He takes on the task of trying to fill seats for basketball games at a time when economic uncertainties threaten to further impact consumer earning and spending in San Antonio and across the U.S.
Miceli acknowledges that there is room for improvement and the need to be proactive in selling San Antonio on the Spurs at a time when sellouts are less of a guarantee than in years past.
“Right now, I’m in heavy assessment mode — on all levels,” Miceli explains.
That assessment, he says, will include a good, hard look at staff interaction, organizational strategies and the total in-game and even post-game experience fans are getting in San Antonio.
Value added
The NBA was already dealing with some attendance concerns last season. Of the league’s 30 teams, 15 saw their turnstile numbers decline in 2007-08 compared to the previous season. Those 15 teams combined to draw 870,000-plus fewer fans last season than in 2006-07.
The Spurs were one of those 15 teams that saw attendance dip last season. San Antonio ranked 9th in the NBA in attendance in 2007-08 and 13th last season. A number of NBA teams are addressing attendance concerns with discounted or complimentary tickets.
The Indiana Pacers threw in free tickets to pre-season games this fall as a perk for season ticket holders.
In New Jersey, the Nets have offered season ticket purchasers an opportunity to put off payments until early next year. The team is also reportedly delaying construction of a new arena in Brooklyn because of the financial uncertainties.
The Charlotte Bobcats are marketing a six-game “Tipoff” ticket package. The offer includes complimentary tickets to the team’s home opener against Miami.
Ten times this season, the Dallas Mavericks are discounting the price of their least expensive seats from $9 to $2.
Miceli says teams need to come up with more bang for the buck. He says the Spurs will explore ways to give fans something extra.
For starters, the Spurs are staging a series of free post-game concerts on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays featuring local and regional acts.
“In this business, because we rely so much on discretionary income, that value proposition just becomes a little more important when the economy takes a dip,” Miceli says.
Spurs Sports & Entertainment President Rick Pych says Miceli has the track record to step in and have a real impact on the organization’s flagship franchise.
“Frank is a very highly regarded and accomplished leader in the sports and entertainment industry,” says Pych adds.
Sky is falling
The NFL’s Goodell says professional sports are “absolutely not” immune to the economic crisis.
“We are impacted,” he says. “We need to look at how we manage our business just like everyone else.
“We all are feeling the pinch, some more than others,” Goodell adds. “It’s something we need to be very sensitive to. We want to come through this and be stronger at the other end of the tunnel.”
Miceli agrees.
“I’m walking into an incredible organization that has built something pretty special,” he says. “But maybe we are a diamond that needs to be polished a little bit more.”
Says Miceli, “Maybe we’ve been a victim of our own success and people are expecting the same thing. We’ve got to deliver something different.”
One thing Miceli would like to deliver is a game plan that helps grow the Spurs’ television and arena audiences.
“What are we not doing to get more people? Finding that out is certainly a top priority,” Miceli says, adding, “Can we do a better job in the Hispanic market? Perhaps.”
What Miceli doesn’t want to see is fan erosion, a challenge nearly every team faces at some point. Such erosion could be compounded by the ongoing economic uncertainties.
“The challenge right now is pretty similar across the country in any sport and any business,” Miceli says. “It’s the economy. If enough people say the sky is falling, then the sky must be falling. I think you have to deal with that. It’s still about discretionary income.”
Miceli says his immediate game plan is simple.
“We have to be smart,” he says. “We have to look at everything. We have to be open to new ideas.”