One possible reason for Rockets' low home attendance

"Houston. Given the region's climate (hot and humid), air quality (abysmal) and relative lack of outdoor recreation, staying active presents a Texas-style challenge. The city does have an ongoing Get Lean Houston campaign."

LOL.

 

Right.... It couldn't be the:


- Ticket prices, lack of attractive ticket packages like other teams do (Seattle/Utah). The lowering of prices this season and the media promotion "Be Part of Something Big" is the first time I ever remember the Rockets doing this. It was about time. They don't even discount their season tickets, at least they didn't the last time I checked. Other NBA teams do. Check out all the stuff that Bulls season ticket holders get

- Weak economy. By food for the family or go to a Rockets game? Hummm tough one. Companies are also reluctant to buy corporate tickets which make up a lot of the ticket sales.

- Team's performance over the past few seasons. Fairweather fans.


We soldout against the Knicks the other night I think. As the team gets better, so will the attendance thanks to the fair weather fans. Hopefully the Rockets will continue to embrace the fans. I really like their commercials on tv.

 

that's not it at all, the tickets are just plain too expensive, they're the most expensive in the league, its been documented. granted it i love the rockets, but damn, the ticket prices have got to come down at least 15%, i don't care if they're opening a new arena. yes, they're a playoff team now, but still, they had two sorry seasons of depressions, no ones gonna come out and pay through the nose to see that. first they have to get some consistency winning, they're a young team with ALL of the championship pieces already. they don't need anything at all, keep this exact squad together for the next 5 years you have a DYNASTY. role players, 3 stars, rebounding, defense, sharpshooting, passing by Yao, that's all the doctor ordered.

 

Please..Please..
Move 3-4 rox games to Shanghai next year..
We will be screaming for those 15000 tickets in Jiangwan gym!

Attendances guaranteed!

 

The vast majority of American sport's fans are fairweather.

When a team struggles, attendance generally drops - when they win, attendance rises. Even the mighty Yankees were not immune to this phenomena

 

Sorry for my poor English..

I meant "Rox games in Shanghai, soldout guaranteed!"

 

I I was running the NBa....I wouldnt listen to an6y of you little people


Seriously though, I was thinking about this last night. As the NBA becomes a true internation league TV contracts overseas will get higher and higher.

I think this is the money NBA teams need to learn to live off of.


Who want to pay huge amounts of money to watch a basketball game? Sure its the NBA, best in the world....buts its a basketball game and need to be priced as such.


If NBA teams can live of money TV money and make REAL drops in ticket prices I think the NBA wouldnt be to far off of a boom in popularity

 

The tickets are DAMN expensive.

I went with my family (4 total) to the Jazz game last week. We sat 4 rows from the very, very, very back of the top section of the Compaq Center in a diagonal corner. Price? $200.

Are you kidding me! I sure couldn't afford to do that more than once a year.

 

Like them or not, they still sell $10 seats.

 

Not quite.

Average ticket prices

Highest

1 NY Knicks Madison Sq. Garden $89.80
2 LA Lakers Staples Center 89.51
3 Houston Compaq Center 65.45
4 Sacramento ARCO Arena 61.99
5 Miami AmericanAirlines Arena 59.98

Lowest

1 Detroit The Palace $31.90
2 Charlotte Charlotte Coliseum 34.80
3 Milwaukee Bradley Center 36.32
4 Denver Pepsi Center 38.11
5 Minnesota Target Center 39.31

 

Yeah, but what about the article?

 

Don't you call me pudgy, portly, or stout...let me tell you once again, WHO'S FAT?!

 

BACK2BACK Champions!!!!!!
HOW SWEET IT IS!!!!!!

 

Actually, hasn't attendance been climbing recently? The Rockets seem to be pulling in around 13,000 now, which seems to be an improvement.

Just remember what Bill Walton said

something along the lines of..

"Before Magic, anyone could get a ticket to the Lakers. Before Jordan, Chicago couldn't even give away a ticket to the Bulls game. Now with Yao Ming, in a couple years, you will not be able to find any tickets to the Rockets game."

 

I had a feeling that the Rockets having the highest prices wasn't the case.

Anyway, It has to do with the fan base as much as anything. Granted, the Rockets haven't been the most competitive team over the past few years or so and that won't help things.

However, I have Nets season tickets and I also split Knicks season tickets and go to around 10 games a year. Taking this year as an example, the Knicks are horrible...they have no real marketable players...they are already counting lottery balls. If you don't live in NYC, getting there can be an absolute nightmare...especially if you drive in. On the other hand, you have the Nets. They are the defending Eastern Conf Champs and are making a case that they will possibly defend that title. They have the best point guard in the league and are very exciting to watch. Getting to the Meadowlands is fairly simple for people in NJ...and only a 15 minute bus ride from NYC (buses going back are lined up from halftime until the end of the game so getting back in to the city isnt a problem either). In addition, the seats for Nets games are a helluva lot cheaper than the ones at the Garden.

One would think that the Nets get the better crowd based on those factors. Obviously, thats not the case. Nets games are deader than Elvis while the Knicks fill the garden practically every night and its electric. I certainly don't get it.

FYI..you can make the same comparison between the NJ Devils and the NY Rangers and you get the same results. The Rangers, who suck year in and year out lately sell out and get a lively crowd...while the Dvils, who contend for the Stanley Cup (or at least contend for the playoffs) get the same type of crowd that the Nets get

 

The price IS a factor. I have been to several games this season in $10 and $23 tickets and those sections were sold out. However, the $40 upper tier tickets were not.

Man, I cannot believe all the stuff Bulls fans get. Awesome. Too bad their team is junk.

 

yeah...the $10 tickets are like a mirage...they're never actually there! I have called for $10-$13 tickets a few times, and they've always been sold out, even when the game wasn't sold out...or not even close.

 

I think the problem is that too much food is being bought for the family.

 

I agree. Everyone kknows Ramen could be had for $.15/package.
And if you buy in bulk, you may get it for about $.10.

Heck, once in awhile you should upgrade to the deluxe version with beef or chicken flavor for an extra $.02

Them's good eating. By the way, those flavor packets are good for snacking.