A Home game in Raleigh?

[fatlever]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/1 ... angle.html

Apparently the Bobcats are considering the possibility of playing one or a few home games per year in the Triangle area in an effort to increase marketing in that area.

I know the Celtics used to (or maybe still do) play a few games from time to time in Hartford. Are there any other teams that regularly play home games in a different city in the same region?

Perhaps the Bobcats should worry about getting the games on TVs in all the NC/SC markets first, then look to playing some games around the area. Or maybe they feel they need to play some games around the area to help get games on TV in more markets.

Thoughts?

With a Charlotte Bobcats-Miami Heat exhibition nearing a sellout in Raleigh Tuesday, Bobcats management says it could eventually play a regular-season NBA game in the Triangle.

This would be part of an expanded effort at marketing the Bobcats throughout the Carolinas.

“Down the line we wouldn’t rule out a regular-season contest in an alternate market,” chief marketing officer Pete Guelli told the Charlotte Observer Thursday. “If we see the response as the team starts to improve, if that’s really going to help us from a marketing perspective, that’s something we’d consider.”

Bobcats president Fred Whitfield said moving a regular-season home game outside Time Warner Cable Arena has been discussed “at a very high level internally,” and that the Bobcats are allowed to play up to two regular-season games a season outside Charlotte.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/1 ... rylink=cpy

[HornetJail]

One there and one in Columbia? Please????

[LamarMatic7]

I think that it was more popular to do this back in the day, the 70s and 80s. By the way, I suppose that the Hornets didn't do this even once, right? This might be the first game in Raleigh since the Carolina Cougars of the ABA. I bet that about three people who are obsessed with basketball like me actually find that fact cool.

[Liver_Pooty]

I think its a genius PR move. The Heat preseason game in Raleigh is already sold out except for a few hundred tickets that will sale the day of the game.

[Benjamin Linus]

I like the idea.

It would be cool if they could play some Hurricanes games in Charlotte as well.

[Kembastockton]

How did the tickets sell for that preseason game the Hurricanes played there last season?

[SWedd523]

How did the tickets sell for that preseason game the Hurricanes played there last season?

Can't say, but the Bobcats played a preseason game two years ago in Columbia and it got a much better showing of fans than one would expect

[Its The Milk]

I would love for some Hurricanes games to be played in Charlotte. As long as I can see the Cats on TV they can play wherever they like.

[bobcats3wallace]

I think this would be a good move. This team desperately needs to build a fan base. Since they have yet to do that through TV, as of yet, they need to look at other avenues. If you can go to Raleigh once, or even twice a year, then you could create excitement around the team coming. The people that go to that game could have a great time and spread the word. That's how you create a fan base. With the arena improvements in Greensboro, I wonder if that would even be a place to look at in the future. Columbia would be a solid location as well.

[fatlever]

its one thing for the people in these secondary markets to go to a heat game, but are they going to show up to see the bobcats play the wizards on a tuesday? or would the bobcats only schedule marquee games on weekends in these prime locations? and how are the current season ticket holders going to feel about losing a weekend game vs the heat, lakers, clippers, bulls, knicks, celtics, thunder etc... to a secondary market? maybe a fair compromise would be a sunday afternoon game vs a mid level draw team, such as the nets, spurs, mavs, blazers. or of course, just schedule a game vs the pacers and all the unc fans will come out to watch hansbrough or a game vs the magic so they can come boo redick. problem solved.

[freakon0mics]

I think this would be a good move. This team desperately needs to build a fan base. Since they have yet to do that through TV, as of yet, they need to look at other avenues. If you can go to Raleigh once, or even twice a year, then you could create excitement around the team coming. The people that go to that game could have a great time and spread the word. That's how you create a fan base. With the arena improvements in Greensboro, I wonder if that would even be a place to look at in the future. Columbia would be a solid location as well.

I agree. For a small market team, that is still trying to get over the shadow of the Hornets, it needs to build up a good sized fan base to be relevant in this league. Trying to expand and get awareness by exposing this team to all of the Carolinas will help that. The Raleigh/Durham area have knowledgeable and passionate basketball fans and if the Bobcats can touch just a small percentage of that market, it will only help the team out. I also like the idea of expanding down South to Columbia.

[Walt Cronkite]

I've been suggesting this for years. It would make a big difference in the triangle.

[HornetJail]

I agree. For a small market team, that is still trying to get over the shadow of the Hornets, it needs to build up a good sized fan base to be relevant in this league. Trying to expand and get awareness by exposing this team to all of the Carolinas will help that. The Raleigh/Durham area have knowledgeable and passionate basketball fans and if the Bobcats can touch just a small percentage of that market, it will only help the team out. I also like the idea of expanding down South to Columbia.

I'd love it if they'd come down and play a game or two in Columbia. I miss going to games, and I'm not driving 100 miles to see something I can watch on TV/random streams when I'm down here.

[Kembastockton]

its one thing for the people in these secondary markets to go to a heat game, but are they going to show up to see the bobcats play the wizards on a tuesday? or would the bobcats only schedule marquee games on weekends in these prime locations? and how are the current season ticket holders going to feel about losing a weekend game vs the heat, lakers, clippers, bulls, knicks, celtics, thunder etc... to a secondary market? maybe a fair compromise would be a sunday afternoon game vs a mid level draw team, such as the nets, spurs, mavs, blazers. or of course, just schedule a game vs the pacers and all the unc fans will come out to watch hansbrough or a game vs the magic so they can come boo redick. problem solved.

Yes, we love ball up here in the triangle, but you have to have a contact to get tickets to a State, Duke, or Carolina game. The Cats will sell out every time they play up here. Guarunteed.

[Kembastockton]

Just got in from the Raleigh game. My wife and I had a blast even though we were in the nose bleed seats. Hendo looked really good as did Sessions, and Kemba.

[SWedd523]

Hendo looked "good" ?

[Liver_Pooty]

Just got in from the Raleigh game. My wife and I had a blast even though we were in the nose bleed seats. Hendo looked really good as did Sessions, and Kemba.

Henderson looked horrible. Coach K found him after the game and had a talk with him after his 4-15 night.

Unfortunately like many on here predicted there were more Heat fans than Bobcat fans. But thats to be expected.

[Kembastockton]

He was active. That is why I am happy. I would rather see him go 4 for 15 than 6 for 9. He is our best player he needs to be demanding the ball, and taking shots. That is the only way he is going to develop.

[Eoghan]

The amount of bandwagon Heat fans there pissed me off. Bobcat fans need to start acting like hooligan firms and bullying these fools.

[Kembastockton]

The amount of bandwagon Heat fans there pissed me off. Bobcat fans need to start acting like hooligan firms and bullying these fools.

Yeah, me too. A lady accross the aisle from me was actually heckling the cats. I wanted to say something, but she had small children with her so I let it ride. I just started to make more noise than her.