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December 1, 2009
With Futility Record at Stake, Ticket Sales Are as Cold as the Nets
Off the Dribble [NY Times NBA Blog]
by Ken Belson
Yormarketing Genius appears to be running out of ideas.
In a season gone astray, the chance to see the Nets set a record, even one for futility, may be reason enough to head to East Rutherford, N.J., to cheer them on. The Dallas Mavericks and their star, Dirk Nowitzki, are potential drawing cards as well.
Yet prices for many tickets for Wednesday’s game are being sold for up to 40 percent below face value, according to Jason Berger, the president of AllShows.com, a leading ticket broker.
Tickets on FanSnap, which scans the Web sites of ticket resellers, showed even deeper discounts. Seats in the upper bowl at the Izod Center were being sold for as little as $2. Some seats in the lower bowl were being dumped for $8.
Rod Thorn, the Nets’ president, apologized to fans last week. In a letter sent to season-ticket holders, he said that “our season has certainly been frustrating so far.” He added that the players’ “inability to finish close games has put us in a tough spot.”
Thorn said the Nets’ goals remained unchanged: “Be as competitive as possible in the present, and position ourselves to make major improvements in the near future.”
Thorn did not define the near future.
NoLandGrab: It's a pity that Rod Thorn is having to apologize to season-ticket holders, when it's Bruce Ratner and Brett Yormark who've turned the Nets into the worst team in pro sports.
Posted by eric at December 1, 2009 10:52 AM