The Houston Rocxkets are the most successful team in Town, Why does the Houston Chro

i was listening to a radio program the other day talking about this.

did you know that the NFL is the #1 rated show for every network that carries it?? how amazing is that?? and usually it's not just #1..it will also occupy the top 5 rated programs on the networks that cover it. i think the only exception was American Idol. this is far more than just being the most popular sport...this is america's favorite entertainment...NFL football.

and i say all that as a baseball-first guy. the NFL is absolutely sick in terms of its dominance.

 

Actually, if you include college sports, the NBA is further back than #3. They suffer from playing in a season that is dominated by the other sports at some point or another... NFL/College FB for the first half, and College BB/MLB opening day for the second half.

Also, the NBA has the smallest television deal/least amount of national exposure, in terms of overall package worth, compared to the other sports (NFL, MLB, college sports)... and since those $$$ estimates are based on interest, there lies your answer.

 

the astros have only had roger for about 5 starts so far this season, so that's not really true yet. but yeah he's good

 

10 starts.

but the guy you responded to is just wrong. i've heard tons of national guys come out this year saying they thought the astros would win the wild card...particularly when they re-visited predictions right around the all-star break.

 

The bottom line is, unfortunately, Houston is a lousy sports town. If a Houston team isn't winning no one shows up. Houstonians are not loyal fans. The mindset is win or stay home. A classic example is the three NCAA football programs in town. They don't draw squat. Most of the students from these schools won't even go to the games. Unless they are playing the Aggies or the Longhorns the stadium is virtually deserted. That's real sad.
This mindset bleeds over to the professional franchises. Support your beloved team, even if they are losing--ain't ever going to happen in Houston.

 

Too explain the answer to this thread please refer to the Dixie Chics.

 

the texans aren't winning jack. they went 2-14 last season. they have a waiting list for season tickets.

astros attendance won't stay at 3 million (which is fantastic, by the way, and would mark the 3rd time the 'stros have done that)...but the ballpark experience will likely insure that this team won't have horrible years at the gate...that's the magic of the new ballparks around MLB..they become weekend destinations for people from all over the state.

the rockets have failed to capture the imagination of the city for quite some time. more than any sport, the NBA needs to have a winner to draw. i can't think of a losing NBA franchise that sells out every year. maybe utah or san antonio, where they're the only game in town. denver is a great sports city...but fans weren't lined up to watch the nuggets suck. boston is a great sports city...but the celts haven't sold out all their games in a long time. we hear all the time how great an nba city dallas is...but i was up there when the mavs sucked, and they couldn't give those tickets away. to expect people to shell out that kind of money for a team that doesn't make the playoffs in a league where more teams make the playoffs than don't is unrealistic. as far as i know, it isn't happening anywhere.

 

Well probably the only 'losing' team that has full attendance is the New Orleans/Oklahoma Hornets, and they aren't losing by much. And of course the Hornets are widly welcome in Oklahoma, being one of their rare major league franchise in the city. When the Hornets return to New Orleans I won't be surprised at another full attendance since the Saints aren't exactly contenders.

 

the hornets weren't selling out in NOLA. they were doing far better in Oklahoma, thanks to the novelty. attendance declined in NOLA every year, with the hornets drawing just over 14,000 by the 2004/5 season.

the saints draw. NOLA belongs to the Saints. their season ticket base is huge. and there's lots of excitement about reggie bush and drew brees. they should be a better product on the field. certainly a more exciting product.