MESSAGE to HAWKS PLAYERS

[ACE_reppin_ATL]

STOP worrying about the crowd at Phillips for right now!!!

I'm sick of the media quoting the HAWKS players asking for the fans to come out to the games and help improve Phillips attendance...WE SHOULD...I get that and I do think more of our city needs to come out...But the fact of the matter is that the Hawks are finally doing something worth seeing to the average Hawks fan...Hawks are just starting to win consistently, but not consistently enough....

Now I am a long-time Hawks fan, that has never jumped ship or bandwagon, and I catch a few games per season....However, I don't have time or extra money to catch/attend season tickets or anything like that...So what I do is just like many average Hawks fans do, and that is to try to go the as many marquee games as possible when I go. Some other people that I know always say that they would go to a couple games, but they are not that interested in the Hawks enough to spare extra money to see Hawks vs NJ or NY or LAC or SAC or the other teams that "SHOULDN'T" pose any competition...We have now went from 19-6 all the way to 21-12!!! Why are we NOT 26-7 right now? Because of the scrub losses that come from playing inconsistent, mainly on the road...But worse than that, we are losing at Phillips to scrubs like the Knicks (who are playing a little better, but still)...

Bottom line, we as fans do need to get out to cheer them boys as much as we can....But at the same time, the players gotta stop worrying about that AND INSTEAD STOP FLUKING THESE GAMES AWAY WITH PIZZ POOR EFFORT AGAINST VERY, VERY BEATABLE TEAMS... No body wants to spend $60-80 per person for decent seats and see the Hawks play like men with PMS against scrub teams...Phillips Arena's presentation and atmosphere keeps you from feeling a little cheated out of your money in that case, but you still go home feeling a little embarrassed....Especially when you gotta get those dread "WTF!!! Hawks Suck, they lost to the ______!!! LoL!!!" text messages before you get home...

THE MORE CONSISTENT THE HAWKS PLAY = the easier they will beat scrub teams = the better the record will be = the more fans will come to Phillips...

[JoshB914]

I don't think the Hawks' disappointment with the meager attendance is at all related to their recent struggles. We have been a good home team for a few years now and were never packing the seats.

The attendance is low because Atlanta is not a good sports town. It takes quite a bit of convincing to get the city to consistently support anybody. If you're trying to defend the fans for not coming because we have lost four in a row then I don't get it. The attendance numbers are indefensible for a team of our caliber and the reason is because Atlanta is awful at supporting its teams.

[evildallas]

Personally I am tired of those stories as well, but for me it has nothing to do with team performance. I don't appreciate someone making $15M to play this year lamenting low attendance. I can't speak for everyone, but times are tough for a lot of people. 15M insulates you from those realities. Even though I have a job that currently allows me to afford season tickets I have to consider whether my employer will deem me no longer essential or ship my job overseas. Would the money I spent on games be better saved for inevitable rainy day (like paying medical bills when I no longer have insurance)? That's a real consideration. If I weren't a season ticket holder I'd be very careful selecting which games I would attend. Beyond ticket prices are concessions (thankfully I don't drink anymore or beer prices would kill me) and parking.

I'm not begrudging NBA players for the money they make, but don't tell me you are disappointed by poor turnout like your entitled to a full house of adoring supporters. How about you come out in the media and just say that you'll bust your butt to make sure that the fans who spend their hard earned money on seeing you play live go home feeling it was money well spent? Not a guaranteed win, but just a guaranteed team effort. Short of lower prices or an economic surge, that's the only type of story I think would help fill the remaining seats because rather than whining it will make me want to cheer for the player who says and does that.

[Skyhawk1]

I agree with dallas. JJ and most of these players have no idea what the economy is like out there these days. ATL has been hit really hard. I think people would show up more if they could afford. I have been to only 1 game this season, should make it to the Celtics game as well, but that's just cause i really enjoying being at the arena. When you know you can stay in the comfort of your own place and watch it for free, it's hard to get people to pay and go to the arena. On the top of that, we know that ATL fans are not known for supporting their team unless it's a game it really matters.

[HMFFL]

I just laughed at Joe even mentioning it to the press. After the end of the season Joe Johnson's career NBA (not endorsements) earnings will be roughly $75 million. He purchased Shareef Abdur-Rahim's house a few years ago for $14 million. IMO, he is completely oblivious to the real word.

[perthwildcat]

"No body wants to spend $60-80 per person"

Is that how much it costs even for season tickets?

I think the issue here the NBA is pricing itself out of the reach of normal fans.

I get season tickets to our football league (I live in Australia) and have done for about 10 years. It has never cost me more than 300 and i see about 16 games a year and free public transport is included if i choose to take it.

[evildallas]

^^^ The Hawks have made affordable season ticket deals at the ends which is why the sides will look sparse, but the ends will have a decent crowd (even against NJ). But the lower sides which show up a lot on TV are in that price range ($60-80 or higher) for season tickets and way more than that for single games.

For single games 300-level on the side are $43 then if you eat or drink anything you are over $50. Parking is $10-15 depending on lot. The lower ends and middle 200 level are $70 for single games.

[Major_9000]

Nobody in Atlanta has any money.