duncan228
03-09-2010, 10:16 PM
The power of maybe: LeBron selling Knicks tickets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-cnbcknickstix030910&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
By Darren Rovell, CNBC.com
In just a couple of weeks, the New York Knicks have taken deposits on 1,800 new season tickets.
For those keeping score at home, that’s the fastest the team has sold this many new season tickets in its storied history.
Considering the team is heading for another losing season and hasn’t won a playoff series in a decade, it can be assumed that all this excitement has to do with the anticipation of the free agents the team is going to sign for next season.
“We didn’t hit this number until about August 15 of last year, which was a record year,” said MSG Sports president Scott O’Neil. “We are on fire.”
The question is, how will the people who have put down $250 or $500 react based on what free agents the Knicks get? How many are LeBron or bust? How many will pay the rest – which by the way, the prices haven’t been determined yet – if the Knicks land Chris Bosh or Joe Johnson?
“There’s certainly anticipation of adding two superstars to New York,” O’Neil said. “I think there’s also a sense of, most of us remember the 90s when you couldn’t get a ticket to a Knicks game.”
Despite its struggles, the team will sell out 28 games this year.
The new season ticket sales have been based on much speculation of course. While O’Neil and Knicks executives are not allowed to talk about specific free agents publicly due to tampering rules, those selling tickets on the phone can mention the names of the big free agents.
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Slideshow: The highest ticket prices in U.S. sports
http://www.cnbc.com/id/35780689?__source=yahoosports&par=yahoosports
By Darren Rovell, CNBC.com
In just a couple of weeks, the New York Knicks have taken deposits on 1,800 new season tickets.
For those keeping score at home, that’s the fastest the team has sold this many new season tickets in its storied history.
Considering the team is heading for another losing season and hasn’t won a playoff series in a decade, it can be assumed that all this excitement has to do with the anticipation of the free agents the team is going to sign for next season.
“We didn’t hit this number until about August 15 of last year, which was a record year,” said MSG Sports president Scott O’Neil. “We are on fire.”
The question is, how will the people who have put down $250 or $500 react based on what free agents the Knicks get? How many are LeBron or bust? How many will pay the rest – which by the way, the prices haven’t been determined yet – if the Knicks land Chris Bosh or Joe Johnson?
“There’s certainly anticipation of adding two superstars to New York,” O’Neil said. “I think there’s also a sense of, most of us remember the 90s when you couldn’t get a ticket to a Knicks game.”
Despite its struggles, the team will sell out 28 games this year.
The new season ticket sales have been based on much speculation of course. While O’Neil and Knicks executives are not allowed to talk about specific free agents publicly due to tampering rules, those selling tickets on the phone can mention the names of the big free agents.
*********************
Slideshow: The highest ticket prices in U.S. sports
http://www.cnbc.com/id/35780689?__source=yahoosports&par=yahoosports