E-N: Spurs strive for stability

[duncan228]

Spurs strive for stability
By William Pack - Express-News

A new NBA season rekindles hopes that the San Antonio Spurs will make another championship run and that team officials have designed the right strategy to keep the Spurs financially sound in a still-shaky economy.

“We think the future is bright both for the Spurs and the city of San Antonio,” said Rick Pych, president of business operations for Spurs Sports & Entertainment, which owns the pro basketball team and three other sports franchises.

But he admits that team officials have faced challenges in maintaining support from fans and sponsors as jobs disappeared and sales weakened in the recession.

“Generally, there is a different perspective in the buying decisions people make,” said Pych. “They are more cautious in how they spend their discretionary income.”

The team is trying to address those concerns in a variety of ways: by freezing season ticket prices and offering options that extend ticket payment periods; by offering special, reduced-price promotions on a variety of games; by upgrading an area of the AT&T Center balcony to make it more appealing; and by providing activities such as free, post-game concerts that give fans more to do.

“We want to appeal to as many people as possible,” Pych said. “We hope to be a very, very compe ive team. But there's a lot more going on than that, and it's all at a good value.”

So far, the results suggest the Spurs are on pace with last year.

Pych said while more season ticket holders chose not to renew this year, a record number of new season ticket holders have been added — about 2,000.

In all, the team expects to sell close to 11,000 season tickets this year, which would be about normal for its seven-year stay at the AT&T Center.

Pych said some of the team's corporate sponsors dropped out this year because of economic concerns, but they have been replaced by others companies.

“So we're holding where we are both in numbers and in revenue,” Pych said.

Pych said the team's goal is to sell out as many games as it can to cover the price cuts the team is offering on ticket packages. Last year, the Spurs sold out 21 of their 41 regular season home games and all three of their playoff games.

This year, the team's business success could hinge on how well it sells individual game tickets.

“We want to give fans value so they want to come back,” Pych said.

The Spurs are initiating a new marketing campaign oriented around the excitement that game days create in San Antonio.

It features the word “SpursDay,” which the team hopes will become part of fans' vocabulary to demonstrate how closely intertwined the team and the community are.

Steve Atkins, president of The Atkins Group, which developed the campaign, said research shows “there's an absolute love affair with the Spurs” in San Antonio and the new advertising attempts to tap into that.

Specific fan groups, particularly a younger audience, will be targeted in the new marketing campaign, which includes more online activities.

Also, this year the Spurs have added some big-name players that have fans convinced another winning season is possible.

All those things should give the local favorites a chance to weather the economic storm better than other NBA teams, sports analysts said.

Marc Ganis, president of SportsCorp Ltd., said the Spurs have done an exceptional job of building its reputation as a solid corporate citizen during its recent run of winning years. That could give it an edge in battling the downturn.

[jb4g]

some major changes in the arena for this year...they added a Taco Cabana, took out fan fiesta and replaced it with a large bar and seating area, put in a bunch of interactive video games/wii games in the upper concourse, revamped and expanded all the merchandise stands, added an area where you can get custom jerseys made, and upgraded some of the food/concession offerings. Moral of the story...they want you to spend more money when you are at the game

[Samr]

I really, really like the online stuff they are doing. I haven't bought any ticket packages yet, but I'm sure I'll go to a few games. Nice to hear they upgraded the food in the arena. I think people will gladly spend more money, so long as they are getting something of value. That custom jersey stand and bar area sound like a cool deal at the games. May have to enjoy a few drinks they get the jersey guy to make me one with something inappropriate on the back. I'm pretty sure there was a Spurs player named "Long " right?

[Interrohater]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck! I can't wait to move back to San Antonio. I'd buy season tickets in a heartbeat. sonolinsaoiafjhoifghfjnjdfnljkhlksfhkuhuh!!!!! I hate the army.