Should the Pacers have had more support last year?

[HicksvsKnicks08]

I was reading about Kevin Duckworth ( Portland Trailblazers C who passed away recently) and I thought he made a very intersting comment

Even when the team had knuckleheads, the fans didn’t like those players’ character, but they still supported the Blazers. That says a lot about the loyalty in this community.”

I thought about last years and the year before's team and I can say I did at least purchase the league pass both years. Attendence dropped to an NBA low, and yes it was good to get immediate results finally this summer, but I guess the question I have is...............

Should the Pacers have had more support from the community in spite of some of the players? Were their a lot of "fairweather fans" ?

[Miller4ever]

Since support is directly related to team actions both for the year of and the previous tone of the team. The Blazers didn't have the largest brawl in NBA history. Whatever attendance we got, we deserved.

[FreeRon]

Indiana basketball fans certainly aren't fairweather friends. If you see me in the street and the Pacers just went 82-0 and won the NBA Championship, I'll be wearing my Pacers gear. If they just went 0-82 and didn't score a point all season, I'll be wearing my Pacers gear. I will not, however, spend what little money I have on tickets to see a team that has no legitimate stars, is losing, and looks as if it has no desire to win. I don't consider that being a fairweather fan, I consider that saving my money by watching a high school game with equal hype.

[Charcoal Filtered]

Support is relative. There was a huge hit at the ticket office that made the Blazers change direction. If they had continued to sellout, the squeeky clean roster you see today would not have happened.

Indiana has been hit hard by the economy, but the Pacers have never had huge attendance numbers. There are fair weather fans, but with so many entertainment options it is hard to fault the public. The fair weather fans are needed. If not for them, I would not buy season tickets.

[bballpacen]

There are many reasons as to why support dwindled the past few years, but bottom line is, wins translates into revenue generated... I say that there are some "fair weather" fans, but the majority are fans regardless of how the team is doing... That being said, with the economy being the way it is, it makes it more difficult to get to as many sporting events as one would like... and lets say that you have the choice to get season tickets for the Pacers, or the Colts... The choice is as easy as they come since 02... Add in the fact that you can watch nearly all games on tv, for those residents in the area, there is little reason to "go out to the games" in order to support the franchise... You can go to a high school area game, or even a college game and pay less and be more excited about attending these games as opposed to a Pacer game... That is not even looking at the fact that we have had some boneheaded players on this team that have created image problems... Even if we had no "ugly ducklings" to speak of, if we are not winning, the people of Indiana will find other ways to entertain them selves...

[count55]

While their attendance figures never dropped to the total numbers that the Pacers had last year, Portland did suffer a lull in attendance, including finishing dead last in attendance in the 2005-2006 season.

The Pacers got the support that they got last year. It is disappointing, but understandable.

[greenway84]

I guess Im the exception to the rule. I actually never really attended games until the year before last. I bought a half season Risks last year. And I bought my first season package last year. I was happy to see most of our issues out the door with talks of the rest to follow. Plus I like rooting for the under dog. Always have. I was a way bigger Colts fan before the starting winning playoffs. Not to say I dont still bleed blue. I just dont get as excited. I will continue to be a season ticket holder. Its about basketball. Period. Not about Player issues, or star status. Or even winning to me. Its about watching a sport you love with friends while drinking overpriced beer and eating stale popcorn. And moving to closer seats after half time when you know no one is showing up for those seats. SHHH! Good times.

[mizzoupacers]

What Count said.

I'm sure that attendance will pick back up once the team starts winning again, and now that it has dealt with most of its knuckleheads.