So Les' palatability to MOFCOM and other regulators is wholly contingent upon the current make-up of the Rockets' roster...and the second Yao leaves it he becomes just another shyster?
Hi Les, I am rich chinese guy, we have made billions together in the past, however your money is no longer good here. Why? Because my Yao Ming #11 Houston Jersey is now outdated. I had to spend 10 yuan on a bootleg Raptors jersey, and even worse, Yao broke his leg for the Raptors in his first season so even that is useless too. Since I base billion dollar investments the same way a 10-year old follows his favorite sports teams, our partnership is at an end. Yours, Rich Chinese guy.
Very much so if Les doesn't seize the opportunity to make lasting guanxi in China. Once Yao is no longer with the Rockets (either via trade or retirement), Les may not have the same access to the opportunities he is having right now. BTW, I am with you that if trading Yao makes basketball sense, the Rockets should do it. Any added-on non-basketball incentive to keep Yao is annoying. I am just responding to R2K's question why Yao is cashcow.
Are you suggesting Les should limit his business to those already made billions together with him? Anyway, you should interact more with Chinese businessman. And frankly, I'm not interest on how Yao Ming makes Les Money or not, I'm not Les.
I can't, neither Yao Ming nor Yi Jianlian nor even Sun Yue is in my employ so they won't take my calls.
Exactly! Just trade the big guy already I'll say, no hard feeling because business is business; all I care is what he brings on the court for the team. If he's unable to be on the court then trade him while there's still some value.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/story?id=1585208 HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets, with Yao Ming already in the lineup, added more international flavor Thursday by signing a long term naming rights deal to call their new $200 million downtown arena Toyota Center. Terms of the deal were not announced. "It made sense to the Rockets to find a partner that would benefit from the international exposure that the Rockets are receiving,'' Rockets president and chief executive officer George Postolos said. "Toyota seems to be the perfect fit because of it's international presence.'' The new arena, scheduled for completion in September, will be host to the Rockets, the WNBA's Houston Comets and the Minnesota Wild's minor-league hockey affiliate, the Houston Aeros. Deborah Whal Meyer, corporate marketing manager for Toyota Motor Sales, Inc., said Toyota also looked at the international benefits of a partnership with the Rockets, who made Yao Ming the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft last season. "As a leader in the worldwide market, Toyota will also be able to enhance its brand awareness in Asia through the international exposure offered by the Houston Rockets," Meyer said. Yao, an immediate draw in his rookie season, gave the Rockets wider exposure. "Adding Yao to the Rockets has given us a terrific global presence," Postolos said. "We had 30 games broadcast in China last year and had an extremely large audience. There's every indication that trend will continue. "You can't overstate the global significance to the extent Yao has helped us to become a global franchise."
It's simple. Yao is a cash cow because: 1. Many Asian Americans and nonAA Yao fans in the Houston area is now attending games and buying season tickets because of Yao. 2. All the advertising at the TC from Asian companies. This generates millions. 3. The naming rights to the TC which is caused because Yao is a Rocket. 4. All the profitable business deals Les is now participating in China because of Yao. 5. Yao jersey and merchandise sells sold at the TC. 6. Yao's stellar on court performance contributes to the Rockets making the playoffs. Selling playoff tickets, concessions, and merchandise is a cash cow.
I think he's saying Yao Ming will be forced to join the Raptors, like our #1 All-Time cash cow, Hakeem. Our #1 All-Time Cash Cow.
This should be /thread. And as mentioned, this includes Toyota(who'd never even begin to think about sponsoring the TC w/o Yao) and all the big Chinese companies who are relying on the Rockets broadcasts to sell their products. And I think notoriety helps too. The Rockets are definitely the most popular team in China. And that will likely continue even after Yao retires. So the economical benefits listed should for even longer than when he's in uniform. Of course, this is based on the assumption that we don't piss off Yao and his fan base.
Maybe this will help. RK TEAM VALUE 1-YR % +/- DEBT/ VALUE REVENUE OPERATING INCOME 1 Knicks $613M 1% 0% $208M $29.6M 2 Lakers $584M 4% 22% $191M $47.9M 3 Bulls $504M 1% 11% $165M $55.4M 4 Pistons $480M 1% 0% $160M $40.4M 5 Cavaliers $477M 5% 42% $159M $13.1M 6 Rockets $469M 1% 15% $156M $31.2M 7 Mavericks $466M 1% 26% $153M $13.6M 8 Suns $452M 1% 39% $148M $28.9M 9 Celtics $447M 14% 40% $149M $20.1M 10 Spurs $415M 3% 13% $138M $19.0M 11 Raptors $400M 7% 40% $138M $27.7M 12 Heat $393M -6% 43% $131M $1.1M 13 76ers $360M -5% 18% $116M $0.3M 14 Jazz $358M 5% 3% $119M $8.8M 15 Wizards $353M 2% 47% $118M $14.9M 16 Kings $350M -9% 24% $117M $7.0M 17 Magic $349M 8% 29% $100M $6.2M 18 Warriors $335M 8% 22% $112M $14.2M 19 Nuggets $329M 3% 14% $112M $26.3M 20 Trail Blazers $307M 21% 34% $114M $0.9M 21 Hawks $306M 7% 23% $102M $6.7M 22 Pacers $303M -9% 16% $101M $6.5M 23 T'Wolves $301M -2% 17% $100M $5.7M 24 Thunder $300M 12% 47% $82M $9.4M 25 Clippers $297M 1% 0% $99M $10.7M 26 Nets $295M -13% 71% $98M $0.9M 27 Grizzlies $294M -3% 51% $95M $3.2M 28 Hornets $285M 5% 35% $95M $3.2M 29 Bobcats $284M -1% 53% $95M $4.9M 30 Bucks $278M 5% 20% $94M $5.4M None of those teams above the rockets have a "cash cow" but generate more money than houston. Its not bad being 6th out of 30, but what i've said millions of times, its kinda overrated. When the nets move to brooklyn, they will probably jump the rox as well and if sterling had any sense in his head, he would be above houston also. The mavs are just behind without a cash cow unless someone wants to tell me dirk has all of germany behind him.
Um...no http://www.nba.com/2009/news/04/30/jersey.leaders.2009/index.html Top 15 Most Popular Jerseys 1. Kobe Bryant (Lakers) 2. LeBron James (Cavaliers) 3. Chris Paul (Hornets) 4. Kevin Garnett (Celtics) 5. Allen Iverson (Pistons) 6. Dwyane Wade (Heat) 7. Paul Pierce (Celtics) 8. Nate Robinson (Knicks) 9. Pau Gasol (Lakers) 10. Dwight Howard (Magic) 11. Derrick Rose (Bulls) 12. Ray Allen (Celtics) 13. Steve Nash (Suns) 14. Shaquille O'Neal (Suns) 15. Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets) Top 10 Most Popular Teams (Merchandise sales): 1. Los Angeles Lakers 2. Boston Celtics 3. New York Knicks 4. Cleveland Cavaliers 5. Chicago Bulls 6. New Orleans Hornets 7. Phoenix Suns 8. Miami Heat 9. Detroit Pistons 10. San Antonio Spurs
Do you know something called The Intangibles What Yao brings directly in China are: 1. You dont know how many TV stations broadcast Rox games (national and local TV). In this case, TV contracts should much more favor Rox organization 2. Because of Yao, Rox merchandising is much more popular that's why T-Mac got that much ......... You know Battier's value on court, dont you? when you said "shared among teams", Yao promotes NBA in china even in Asia, NBA benefits, so do ROX. but i think when the games come to ROX, the shares to Rox would be larger than which are not related when you evaluate something, please think like a biz man, including the intangibles I don't know how this intangibles work out, but i definitely think they benefit Rox BIG TIME Les will not give up Yao easily
Man, you are talking about the most popular export from China. As a business person. You want to keep the good relationship. Yao even though he open doors for Les and Les in return keeping Yao around and trying to build around him is a repayment of respect not only to Yao but it's good for his business. You just don't disconnect tie after you land some lucrative deal. If Les is to trade Yao, it's a slap in the face of China saying Yao is not good but what is worst if the mutual relationship was through Yao. Watch how fast Les will lose his relationship and business tie with China.
I heard long time ago that Rockets is owned by a syndicate and Les is just the face of the syndicate and he shares the ownerships with other people in the shadow, anyone knows the story behind? I have not read every post in this thread yet so has anyone mentioned Les expanding his red wine business in China? I think Yao's value benefits Rockets indirectly, say the publicity he has brought to the organization. Les took the biggest bite of the apple not the Rockets.
