I’m flipping around NBA league pass, and stopped by the Wizards at Heat game. Miami has an early 14-9 lead. Nothing worth reporting about the game yet, and I’ll probably head to another game in a few minutes. But it has to be said, judging by TV, the expensive seats look at least 66% empty. The red seats stand out in a big way on television. I’m a bit surprised that it’s this bad. The team supposedly gets over 16,000 fans per game so far this season. That’s what’s listed, at least. And, the Wizards aren’t exactly a particularly hot opponent. Still, someone has to get Heat fans into the arena. The team has holes at point guard and center but is still worth watching. Dwyane Wade is healthy and himself again, even if he’s still getting used to his teammates and new coach. He’s putting up 28.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game on 49.0% shooting. That alone should attract plenty more fans. Michael Beasley has been a good scorer, but he isn’t rebounding as much as expected. His defense is lacking and a serious work in progress. But he’s good and fun to watch, especially as he grows into a refined player. Shawn Marion isn’t himself yet. Udonis Haslem is playing decently as a vastly undersized center. The point guards and centers aren’t worth mentioning at this point. Still, the team is fun and decent. Heat fans, go see your team!
I noticed this last night also. But it's old news that Miami is a football-only city and the people there don't care about basketball or baseball. The popularity of the Heat was just an aberration based on Shaq & their championship run and they have returned to being an afterthought. Just wait until Wade skips town in 2010.
Dolphins Hurricanes . . Everything else. Its just tough to guage what keeps a fan's interest to begin with, in any sport. People can be fickle. & hard to know exactly for sure what makes a team relevant to the city they play in. Certain players being good doesnt exactly mean it matters enough to go pay to see them, even certain teams being good. Marlins have won 2 World Series but are possibly a 100-loss season away from having 900 fans show to a game. I'm willing to guess alot of Miami's lanscape and culture isnt too sports minded.
He has to be. I know the slogan is Get Red, but I didn't think it would mean for us to see more red seats.
No. Seriously. Many cities that have all 3 major sports put football on top and the NBA on the bottom. And, yes, Texas is football country. But Miami is much more lopsided than Houston. Houston's interest in the Astros and Rockets blows away Miami's interest in the Marlins and Heat. It's not close at all. As Rockets fans, we complain about the crowds at Toyota Center, but be glad we aren't in Miami. The Rockets have a very large core group of fans that have truly bonded with the team. The Heat will never have that. That's just Miami. They truly love the 'Fins and they love the 'Canes when they win.
Accurate, minus the love their 'Fins. UM has actually had larger crowds than the Dolphins. Not every game, but some. This is probably the worst time in Miami sports history. Dolphins, Heat, Hurricanes all coming off of losing seasons. Bad economy, which has affected South Florida a lot worse than most other places. Even that excuse is a stretch when ticket prices, at least on the low end, are fairly reasonable. Marlins will continue to suffer until a new stadium is built (which I don't see occurring in the next 5 years). And don't forget to mention the king of crap in Florida: the Panthers. Quite possibly the worse place for a hockey team (at least Nashville's team is located near the downtown area). Best crowds in South Florida this year will be: UM basketball. Hard to believe.
Even when they were in the playoffs, and they had all their lower level fans wear white, they also covered a lot of empty seats in white shirts to disguise the bad sales. Not to praise some Rox ticket holders, bc I went to game 1 against the jazz last year where they gave away red shirts. And yet the whole ground floor of the Toyota Center was still too cool to coordinate.
