Ok, now that I have made an effort to win the "understatement of the year" award I now present you the bunny with his article on the fans or lacktherof.
Also I do want to point out again one other thing, whenever he needs a quote or to talk about the franchise notice which of the two he always seems to get? Does he just not like Bird or is he still so mesmerized Walsh that he can't get past it.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../1088/SPORTS04
Playing in what they call "the heart of basketball country," the Indiana Pacers aren't feeling much love from their fans this season.
A losing record and a stream of negative off-court news have created gaping green holes at Conseco Fieldhouse, where empty seats sometimes outnumber fans.
The team's average attendance of 12,183 ranks last in the NBA and represents its worst norm since the 1990-91 season. Those figures include unused tickets. Actual attendance sometimes fails to reach 10,000, and has dipped below 8,000.
Concern over the issue goes to the very top of the Pacers organization. Co-owner Herb Simon calls the attendance figures "a shock" and vows to take steps to win back fans.
Their attendance, which peaked when every game was sold out in the Fieldhouse's inaugural season of 1999-2000, has declined in six of the past eight years. This season it has dropped by more than 3,000 from last season's average of 15,359. That's the largest single-season slide since 1983.
That likely will translate to another financial loss for owners Herb and Mel Simon.
According to Team Marketing Report, the Pacers' average ticket price this season is $42.39, below the NBA average of $48.83. Multiplied by the 3,000 fewer fans who are attending games this season over 41 home games and that amounts to an additional loss of about $5.2 million. A coinciding drop in revenue from parking, concessions and souvenir sales will add to the total.
According to Forbes Magazine, the Pacers lost $12.5 million during the 2005-06 season and $1.3 million last year, with the difference reflecting the lower player payroll.
Herb Simon said those figures are "probably not" accurate but acknowledged more red ink is on the way.
Reversing recent trends has to start with winning. The attendance fortunes have generally followed the team's won-loss record and reflected the buzz -- positive or negative -- from the previous season.
Their record has declined annually since they won a franchise-record 61 games in 2003-04, and could do so again this season if they don't match last year's win total of 35.
The drumbeat of publicity hits from all the off-court issues dating to the brawl in November of 2004 has only further deepened fan discontent.
"We're in a smaller market and when we're not winning, our attendance comes down," CEO Donnie Walsh said. "I think it's a combination of some of the incidents that we've had and the fact we're not a very good team right now, which is another story. The fact that anybody would stay home because of some of the things any of our (players) have done is not a good statement for us and we have to correct that."
According to an unscientific online poll conducted by The Star after the most recent incident involving Shawne Williams, 71 percent of 16,000 respondents said they would not accept free tickets to a Pacers game.
Renny Harrison, owner of ticket broker Circle City Tickets, said his business has taken a financial hit on Pacers tickets.
He estimated he is doing "20 or 25 percent" of the business he received in the 2003-04 season and expects to lose money on the team this season. His company is offering tickets at less than face value. A $125 seat, for example, can be purchased for $50.
"I would have never imagined when things were so good for us the year Conseco Fieldhouse opened that it would be like this," Harrison said.
"All of it's very fragile. You're an injury or an incident away from things going bad."
Cookie English, a season ticket holder with her husband since the franchise began play in 1967, has remained steadfast in her support.
"I don't go there to look at (the players') personal lives," English said. "I want to be entertained. If you want to find an excuse not to go, you can do it. But to say they don't put forth effort and the games aren't entertaining, it's not true. It makes me sad. I'm fearful that since their attendance is down they'll want to move this team out of here."
The Pacers are taking steps to try to win back fans. They have stepped up game promotions, met with more groups in the community, invited season ticket holders to visit with team president Larry Bird at his summer residence in Brown County and invited season ticket holders to watch games with Walsh from his suite. Walsh also has made it a point to answer every e-mail from fans.
"We want to assure people as far as the franchise itself, we're pretty much the same people who were involved when we were considered a model franchise," he said. "When you hit bad times, you have to prove yourself.
"Our staff is doing everything it can. We've tried everything and will continue to try everything, but if the team isn't winning games (it's difficult)."
Top 3
Rk. Team Attendance
1. Detroit 22,076
2. Chicago 21,978
3. Cleveland 20,258
Bottom 3
Rk. Team Attendance
28. Phila. 13,263
29. Memphis 12,985
30. PACERS 12,183
Also I do want to point out again one other thing, whenever he needs a quote or to talk about the franchise notice which of the two he always seems to get? Does he just not like Bird or is he still so mesmerized Walsh that he can't get past it.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../1088/SPORTS04
Playing in what they call "the heart of basketball country," the Indiana Pacers aren't feeling much love from their fans this season.
A losing record and a stream of negative off-court news have created gaping green holes at Conseco Fieldhouse, where empty seats sometimes outnumber fans.
The team's average attendance of 12,183 ranks last in the NBA and represents its worst norm since the 1990-91 season. Those figures include unused tickets. Actual attendance sometimes fails to reach 10,000, and has dipped below 8,000.
Concern over the issue goes to the very top of the Pacers organization. Co-owner Herb Simon calls the attendance figures "a shock" and vows to take steps to win back fans.
Their attendance, which peaked when every game was sold out in the Fieldhouse's inaugural season of 1999-2000, has declined in six of the past eight years. This season it has dropped by more than 3,000 from last season's average of 15,359. That's the largest single-season slide since 1983.
That likely will translate to another financial loss for owners Herb and Mel Simon.
According to Team Marketing Report, the Pacers' average ticket price this season is $42.39, below the NBA average of $48.83. Multiplied by the 3,000 fewer fans who are attending games this season over 41 home games and that amounts to an additional loss of about $5.2 million. A coinciding drop in revenue from parking, concessions and souvenir sales will add to the total.
According to Forbes Magazine, the Pacers lost $12.5 million during the 2005-06 season and $1.3 million last year, with the difference reflecting the lower player payroll.
Herb Simon said those figures are "probably not" accurate but acknowledged more red ink is on the way.
Reversing recent trends has to start with winning. The attendance fortunes have generally followed the team's won-loss record and reflected the buzz -- positive or negative -- from the previous season.
Their record has declined annually since they won a franchise-record 61 games in 2003-04, and could do so again this season if they don't match last year's win total of 35.
The drumbeat of publicity hits from all the off-court issues dating to the brawl in November of 2004 has only further deepened fan discontent.
"We're in a smaller market and when we're not winning, our attendance comes down," CEO Donnie Walsh said. "I think it's a combination of some of the incidents that we've had and the fact we're not a very good team right now, which is another story. The fact that anybody would stay home because of some of the things any of our (players) have done is not a good statement for us and we have to correct that."
According to an unscientific online poll conducted by The Star after the most recent incident involving Shawne Williams, 71 percent of 16,000 respondents said they would not accept free tickets to a Pacers game.
Renny Harrison, owner of ticket broker Circle City Tickets, said his business has taken a financial hit on Pacers tickets.
He estimated he is doing "20 or 25 percent" of the business he received in the 2003-04 season and expects to lose money on the team this season. His company is offering tickets at less than face value. A $125 seat, for example, can be purchased for $50.
"I would have never imagined when things were so good for us the year Conseco Fieldhouse opened that it would be like this," Harrison said.
"All of it's very fragile. You're an injury or an incident away from things going bad."
Cookie English, a season ticket holder with her husband since the franchise began play in 1967, has remained steadfast in her support.
"I don't go there to look at (the players') personal lives," English said. "I want to be entertained. If you want to find an excuse not to go, you can do it. But to say they don't put forth effort and the games aren't entertaining, it's not true. It makes me sad. I'm fearful that since their attendance is down they'll want to move this team out of here."
The Pacers are taking steps to try to win back fans. They have stepped up game promotions, met with more groups in the community, invited season ticket holders to visit with team president Larry Bird at his summer residence in Brown County and invited season ticket holders to watch games with Walsh from his suite. Walsh also has made it a point to answer every e-mail from fans.
"We want to assure people as far as the franchise itself, we're pretty much the same people who were involved when we were considered a model franchise," he said. "When you hit bad times, you have to prove yourself.
"Our staff is doing everything it can. We've tried everything and will continue to try everything, but if the team isn't winning games (it's difficult)."
Top 3
Rk. Team Attendance
1. Detroit 22,076
2. Chicago 21,978
3. Cleveland 20,258
Bottom 3
Rk. Team Attendance
28. Phila. 13,263
29. Memphis 12,985
30. PACERS 12,183
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