ducks
10-15-2004, 10:24 AM
October 15, 2004 -- WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Before preseason opened, Knicks president Isiah Thomas said his goal was to make the Knicks "a hot ticket" this season.
So far, the Knicks brass can report their season-ticket base at the Garden is up over last October, though they would not release numbers. Last summer, after two straight non-playoff years amidst the Scott Layden reign of error, the Knicks saw their greatest cancellation of season-ticket holders in years. The days of having a waiting list for season ticket holders were over. The season-ticket base dropped to between 12,000 and 13,000.
The presence of Isiah, the Coney Island Kid, Stephon Marbury and a playoff berth has reversed the slide. Anuche Browne-Sanders, senior VP of business operations, said last night before the Knicks beat the Nets in their exhibition opener at Wachovia Arena that season-ticket sales have risen over last year but wouldn't say by how much.
"We're extremely encouraged," Sanders said. "We had a lot of momentum built on last year's success. Isiah made some great in-season moves and offseason. People are generally excited about the team and it's equated to ticket sales. We had strong season ticket sales. It's up over last year."
The Knicks raised ticket prices as much as 20 percent this summer, though 7,000 seats remained unchanged. The average price hike was 11 percent.
The Knicks were 29-25 following the appointment of Thomas Dec. 22. In getting the seventh seed, they sold out their last 16 regular-season games, 26 total for the season. They ranked fifth in attendance last season (19,164 average) and were 97 percent capacity. They will carry a 16-game sellout streak entering their home opener Nov. 6 vs. Boston.
The Knicks are still hoping for a new Garden and have opposed the Nets' future move to Brooklyn, with James Dolan feeling it will infringe on their ticket sales. However, this year's Nets figure to draw flies to the Meadowlands, so the Knicks could pick up disgruntled Jersey fans.
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If Kurt Thomas were being showcased, he wowed the many scouts on hand, hitting all seven of his shots, mostly mid-range jumpers. Scouts from Boston, Denver, Houston, Rockets, Cleveland and the Clippers were on hand. The Knicks went away from Thomas in the third quarter, though, much to Lenny Wilkens' dismay.
Shandon Anderson did not play . . . Tim Thomas had his chance at revenge against Jason Collins when the Nets center came down the lane on a drive but let him botch the layup. Wilkens said it's time for Thomas to move on.
"I'm sure he's not happy the way last season ended," Wilkens said. "He's got to rise above everything, put all that behind him and look forward to next year. You prove yourself on the floor night in and night out."
So far, the Knicks brass can report their season-ticket base at the Garden is up over last October, though they would not release numbers. Last summer, after two straight non-playoff years amidst the Scott Layden reign of error, the Knicks saw their greatest cancellation of season-ticket holders in years. The days of having a waiting list for season ticket holders were over. The season-ticket base dropped to between 12,000 and 13,000.
The presence of Isiah, the Coney Island Kid, Stephon Marbury and a playoff berth has reversed the slide. Anuche Browne-Sanders, senior VP of business operations, said last night before the Knicks beat the Nets in their exhibition opener at Wachovia Arena that season-ticket sales have risen over last year but wouldn't say by how much.
"We're extremely encouraged," Sanders said. "We had a lot of momentum built on last year's success. Isiah made some great in-season moves and offseason. People are generally excited about the team and it's equated to ticket sales. We had strong season ticket sales. It's up over last year."
The Knicks raised ticket prices as much as 20 percent this summer, though 7,000 seats remained unchanged. The average price hike was 11 percent.
The Knicks were 29-25 following the appointment of Thomas Dec. 22. In getting the seventh seed, they sold out their last 16 regular-season games, 26 total for the season. They ranked fifth in attendance last season (19,164 average) and were 97 percent capacity. They will carry a 16-game sellout streak entering their home opener Nov. 6 vs. Boston.
The Knicks are still hoping for a new Garden and have opposed the Nets' future move to Brooklyn, with James Dolan feeling it will infringe on their ticket sales. However, this year's Nets figure to draw flies to the Meadowlands, so the Knicks could pick up disgruntled Jersey fans.
*
If Kurt Thomas were being showcased, he wowed the many scouts on hand, hitting all seven of his shots, mostly mid-range jumpers. Scouts from Boston, Denver, Houston, Rockets, Cleveland and the Clippers were on hand. The Knicks went away from Thomas in the third quarter, though, much to Lenny Wilkens' dismay.
Shandon Anderson did not play . . . Tim Thomas had his chance at revenge against Jason Collins when the Nets center came down the lane on a drive but let him botch the layup. Wilkens said it's time for Thomas to move on.
"I'm sure he's not happy the way last season ended," Wilkens said. "He's got to rise above everything, put all that behind him and look forward to next year. You prove yourself on the floor night in and night out."