In the uniform thread, a repeated meme is "Move on from Asia" or some version of that. The implication is that the Rockets no longer have Yao and therefore no longer have strong ties to China like they used to. Maybe you think they still do because of Lin, but he'll be gone soon too right? People need to come to terms with the reality that the Rockets are still married to the Chinese market. Here are some quotes from Tad Brown: Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...kets-will-be-players-in-free-agency/10697027/ The Rockets still have very lucrative business deals with Asian companies, notably Toyota and Anta. However, maybe you missed October of last year when the Rockets secured a lucrative deal with Chinese mobile phone giant ZTE: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbe...ership-with-zte-leads-nbas-charge-into-china/ Other lucrative deals? So no, the Rockets aren't going to "move on from Asia" now that Yao is gone and Lin may be gone. (Believe it when I see it) Asia is a very lucrative market for the Rockets and is a big selling point for the team in free agent negotiations.
That's nice and all but... Why does that mean they have to have "China" uniforms? Sponsors and business partners gonna drop the Rockets if they get rid of the "China" uniforms?
They don't have to obviously, but the idea that they should "move on from China" is a bad one. They are targeting Asia. The business opportunities in Asia are way too profitable for them to walk away from, for both the team and the players. Anyone think Chandler Parsons wants the Rockets to walk away from China?
Just because we like our partnership doesn't mean we have to wear the national team jerseys. I guess if they really love America they should change the logo to a bald eagle and have our color scheme changed to red white and blue with 52 stars on the back.
Change back to the old uniforms - 1995. They're even more 'Chinese national team' with the red/yellow schematics. Never liked the current 'Chinese space program' ones. But really hated the Blue/red/white ones. With the 20th anniversary of 1994 coming up, the Rockets marketing would do good to sell the Championship Years colors back to the fans and roll out a retro jersey to where all season long. Don't forget the winning uniforms - it's a small travesty.
Fear, maybe. Fear that changing the branding (let alone changing from the "Chinese" look) will alienate the fans and hurt brand awareness overseas. There isn't any imagery available of Yao in a new scheme...
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I doubt the toyota center was geared to lure asian fans from asian countries . nobody there drives big ass tundra trucks
Ironically, the Chinese national team's uniforms are closer to what Rockets' fans want than what the Rockets currently wear: You'd think if they were really catering to the Chinese market, they'd go back to ketchup and mustard.
The NBA as a whole wants the Chinese market with David Stern acknowledging numerous times, but Houston obviously has close ties with Yao Ming being at the forefront of basketball mania. Not surprising that Daryl Morey was at Li Muhao's workout.
Toyota is a Japanese/American company. The Chinese isn't too fond of Japan. And I may be wrong, but I think any Toyota money comes from Gulf States Toyota.
