What Can The Bobcats Do To Sell Tickets?

[DThompson26]

Ok Bobcat fans....

It's July 2nd, 2009 and were one day into free agency... so what can the bobcats to do earn your business with the offseason???

[Felton for Pres]

I don't think there isn't anything they can do during the offseason other than maybe on the edges. Ultimately, they need to win to sell tickets at this stage. The team failed to capitalize on the novelty of an expansion team, although there was less novelty given that the Hornets were here.

I'd like to see management (not just MJ) and the players be more public (and I don't mean Sean May at Suite). Show the fans that they are good guys. Have Mek or Felton or LB get a regular segment with WFNZ (your core audience) to talk about the team and the league. Show fans that the team is a bunch of regular, good guys. This city still fights an inaccurate perception that NBA players are spoiled thugs. Somehow show them that the guys on the team and management are relatable. Encourage sports fans to talk NBA basketball not just college hoops which is where most people focus. People talk college hoops year round but not NBA. You can help change that with the rights publicity campaigns. Charity projects are great and clearly are helpful but basketball fans don't talk about Habitat for Humanity. They want to know what's going on with team and how they are improving.

Football season is right around the corner and no matter what you do, NBA hoops will be an after thought in Charlotte, at least until late October.

[CatNation]

Allen Iverson

[chrbal]

Pretty much what Felton for pres said. Win, be more active in the community, etc.

My main thing is that they really seemed to just idle by for the 1st 2 seasons.

Season 1: Okafor, signed Brevin Knight, got Gerald Wallace. Followed up by Jason Hart, little frontcourt depth, wasted short-term trades.

Season 2: Drafted Felton, but drafted May. Added 1 more big man (Voshkul)....done.

They didn't take enough chances in the 1st two, WHERE YOU REALLY CAN AFFORD SOME MISSES, and that set them back.

[Walt Cronkite]

Isn't today July 1st?

[fatlever]

what FFP said.

win and engage the community.

that being said, there is no doubt that signing iverson would immediately boost attendance. dude still has a crapton of fans, seeing as how he was voted to the all-star game last year despite sucking.

[Walt Cronkite]

Second thought: Perhaps op is from the future and is here to complete the necessary N-jump? Unless op is stuck in an infinity loop?

More OT: I'm not sold on Iverson selling tickets. Won't he reinforce the casual Charlotte resident's fears about the NBA being a league of thug players? Who's the most blue-collar fa available? That guy probably sells as many tickets.

Season Ticket guys-- do you remember noticing a jump in attendance for 76ers/Nuggets/Pistons games?

[rsavaj]

Echoing what you guys said above, especially adding iverson. Dude's still a draw in this league and he'd bring a lot of excitement to the team.

[Dexmor]

1.Show willing to commit to winning. You can't just win without putting in the work.

2.Do not just make trades to save money. Expanding franchises cant get away with that like others can to rebuild.

3.Do things like show longterm commitment like extend Felton for 3-5 years instead of the bare min.

4.Make better decisions. The past is the past so I won't bring anything up but be smart and always be active. Be one of those teams always shopping and interested.

5.I know I have said this but star power is powerful. Get a star. Ai whoever.

I know it's not gonna make or brake anything but I will be going about 2 games a month next year.

[Rodya]

Allen Iverson

X2

[Battery]

Ok Bobcat fans....

It's July 2nd, 2009 and were one day into free agency... so what can the bobcats to do earn your business with the offseason???

1-Lower tickets prices A LOT. Especially lower level seats. Way overpriced right now.
2-Move to 7:30 start times. People do work in Charlotte other than at banks.
3-WIN

I hate Iverson and do not want to see him on the Bobcats. At this point in his career he's a team killer. Sure people will come and see him, but those people don't care about seeing the Bobcats build a championship team.

Also your marketing is lousy. If Planet Fitness can put up billboards all over town, then why can't you? You should be marketing your product ALL YEAR LONG!

[Felton for Pres]

More OT: I'm not sold on Iverson selling tickets. Won't he reinforce the casual Charlotte resident's fears about the NBA being a league of thug players? Who's the most blue-collar fa available? That guy probably sells as many tickets.

Season Ticket guys-- do you remember noticing a jump in attendance for 76ers/Nuggets/Pistons games?

While I actually think Iverson is one of the toughest dudes to ever play the game, I agree this could be an unintended consequence. Re: local attendance, the Sixers and Nuggets were always easy tickets. However, I was always amazed at how well the Pistons drew in CLT. Didn't realize we had so many ex-moter city folk.

My view on Iverson is this. Do NOT bring him in just to sell tickets. 1) I don't think its a sure fire bet that his arrival sells enough tickets to justify the MLE. 2) I am not sure how CLT embraces him. Again, in his heyday, I'd take him on my team any day. Now, he's just not the same guy and could give our blue collar fan base a whipping boy.

Sign Iverson if you think he makes the team a sure fire playoff team. Wins will bring people to the building faster than an older, slower AI. There is a lot of downside to bringing in AI and I hope management is thinking about that (locker room, less "team" more "AI", tons of second guessing if he repeats his DET performance etc etc)

Get us a PF first.

[freakon0mics]

Artificial Intelligence....oops I really meant Allen Iverson. Maybe drop the ticket prices down as well.

[Dexmor]

Embrace the team. Don't just say it's a college team and jump on the Unc bandwagon.

We do need a star though. AI would be perfect. This town hasn't seen anybody like that in a while.

[24K_Gold]

the thing with iverson is all about respect.he realizes that his career was at an all time high playing for larry brown.last yr was a very humbling experience for the answer and also insentive for him to prove all his doubters wrong.and even with iverson playing like thrash he still put up 18ppg.not to mention that brown said himself that he knows for a fact,how to use iverson
with the defensive players the bobcats have iverson's offense would be a very nice fit.it's crazy cause this team kind of reminds me of larry's sixers team with more capable scorers so iverson wouldn't have to score as much.a qoute from mike brown was that even though iverson wasn't the focus of the piston's offense he still scares the hell out of me.
and as far as a draw his jersey was once again top 5 in the league and detroit was a top 5 road draw but not so well at home even though season ticket sales went up when he was traded for.it's hardly an inbetween with iverson,either you love him or you hate him reguardless of what he does.

[Kevlo_911]

Iverson would def be a good fit at sg for the Bobcats, I really hope he goes there.

[Dexmor]

Any star is the real answer. Normally it would have to be a flashy star but with 2 guys who can enter dunk contests on the roster now any star even a Brand if he gets back to 20 points. AI has superstar quailities so he is perfect but I have been saying star forever but winning is just as good.

[Battery]

the thing with iverson is all about respect.he realizes that his career was at an all time high playing for larry brown.last yr was a very humbling experience for the answer and also insentive for him to prove all his doubters wrong.and even with iverson playing like thrash he still put up 18ppg.not to mention that brown said himself that he knows for a fact,how to use iverson
with the defensive players the bobcats have iverson's offense would be a very nice fit.it's crazy cause this team kind of reminds me of larry's sixers team with more capable scorers so iverson wouldn't have to score as much.a qoute from mike brown was that even though iverson wasn't the focus of the piston's offense he still scares the hell out of me.
and as far as a draw his jersey was once again top 5 in the league and detroit was a top 5 road draw but not so well at home even though season ticket sales went up when he was traded for.it's hardly an inbetween with iverson,either you love him or you hate him reguardless of what he does.

Respect? What are you talking about? The man is SELFISH. We don't need that here. Yeah he averaged 17.4 PPG but shot 42% and 28% from 3 point land. Denver was a much better team with Billups than AI. Detroit was horrible with AI. Larry Brown is like 70 years old, last thing he needs is this selfish clown on the team. AI is UNCOACHABLE.


This LAZY front office/ownership needs to get off their butts and MARKET this team better, not bring in these gimmicks to try and sell tickets!!!!

[Dexmor]

Respect? What are you talking about? The man is SELFISH. We don't need that here. Yeah he averaged 17.4 PPG but shot 42% and 28% from 3 point land. Denver was a much better team with Billups than AI. Detroit was horrible with AI. Larry Brown is like 70 years old, last thing he needs is this selfish clown on the team. AI is UNCOACHABLE.


This LAZY front office/ownership needs to get off their butts and MARKET this team better, not bring in these gimmicks to try and sell tickets!!!![/quote]


Wrong about AI and right about the front office. I would say why but everybody is discussing it. I do love that I had that idea months ago.

[Battery]

Wrong about AI and right about the front office. I would say why but everybody is discussing it. I do love that I had that idea months ago.

Where am I wrong about AI? Are you telling me he's suddenly become a team player?