Sacramento Kings: A Complete History of the Franchise, Its Owners, Arenas, Hall of Famers, and Greatest Legends The Sacramento Kings are one of the oldest franchises in professional basketball. Their story stretches from the early days of the National Basketball League through the NBA’s growth into a global sport. Along the way, the franchise has represented Rochester, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Omaha, and Sacramento, building a history filled with championship basketball, legendary players, memorable coaches, devoted fans, and dramatic playoff battles. Although the Kings have experienced long periods without a championship, their history includes an NBA title, multiple Hall of Fame figures, individual award winners, and one of the most exciting teams of the early 2000s. The Beginning: From Rochester to Sacramento The franchise was founded in 1923 as a semi-professional basketball team in Rochester, New York. It later became the Rochester Royals and joined the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1945. The Royals won the 1945–46 NBL championship and joined the newly formed Basketball Association of America in 1948. When the BAA and NBL merged in 1949, the Royals became part of the NBA. The Rochester Royals reached the top of professional basketball by winning the **1951 NBA championship**, defeating the New York Knicks in seven games. That championship remains the franchise’s only NBA title. In 1957, the team moved to Cincinnati and became the Cincinnati Royals. The franchise moved again in 1972, playing in Kansas City and Omaha before eventually settling in Sacramento in 1985. The Sacramento Kings name was retained when the franchise arrived in California’s capital city. All Kings Franchise Owners The franchise has passed through several ownership groups since its early days. The following list identifies the principal owners and ownership groups associated with the team’s major eras. Les Harrison: The Rochester businessman who founded and owned the Rochester Royals. He guided the franchise through its NBL championship and its early NBA years. Louis Jacobs and the Cincinnati ownership group: The team moved to Cincinnati under new ownership in 1957, with Louis Jacobs and his family’s interests associated with the acquisition and relocation. Thomas J. DeWitt and the Cincinnati ownership group: DeWitt became a leading owner during the Cincinnati era and was associated with the team’s ownership before its Kansas City move. Samuel N. Battistone and interests associated with the Kansas City move: The franchise’s ownership changed during the transition away from Cincinnati. Historical accounts of this period describe changing financial and ownership arrangements. The Kansas City–Omaha ownership group: The team operated in two cities during the 1970s, with Kansas City serving as its principal home. The Maloof family: The Maloofs acquired controlling ownership in 1998. Joe and Gavin Maloof became the public faces of the organization during the franchise’s rise to prominence in the early 2000s. Vivek Ranadivé and the Sacramento ownership group: Ranadivé led the group that purchased the franchise in 2013, keeping the Kings in Sacramento. He remains the franchise’s principal owner. Ownership details from the franchise’s earliest relocation years are complicated by changes in controlling interests, partnerships, and corporate arrangements. The names above identify the principal historical ownership eras rather than every minority investor or temporary financial stakeholder. Every Home City and Home Arena The Kings have played in several cities and numerous arenas throughout their long history. Rochester Royals (1945–1957) Edgerton Park Arena: An early Rochester home used during the franchise’s formative years. Rochester War Memorial: The team’s principal Rochester arena during its later years in the city. Cincinnati Royals (1957–1972) Cincinnati Gardens: The team’s home for much of its Cincinnati era. Cincinnati Coliseum: Another venue used during the Cincinnati years. Kansas City–Omaha Kings (1972–1985) Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City: A major early home for the relocated franchise. Omaha Civic Auditorium: Used during the period when the team represented both Kansas City and Omaha. Kemper Arena, Kansas City: Became a principal home during the later Kansas City era. Omaha venues: The team also played selected home games in Omaha as part of its Kansas City–Omaha identity. Sacramento Kings (1985–present) ARCO Arena I: The original Sacramento home, where the Kings began their California era. ARCO Arena II: Opened in 1988 and became famous for its intense atmosphere and enthusiastic crowds. Power Balance Pavilion: A renamed version of the Sacramento arena during the early 2010s. Sleep Train Arena: Another name used for the same building. Golden 1 Center: Opened in downtown Sacramento in 2016 and remains the team’s home arena. Golden 1 Center represents the modern Kings era, while the old ARCO Arena became synonymous with the franchise’s passionate fan base and its memorable playoff runs. The Complete Ownership Timeline For historical accuracy, the franchise’s ownership record includes several groups not mentioned in the shorter overview above. The principal ownership timeline is as follows: | Owner or ownership group | Era | | Les Harrison | Rochester Royals founding and early years | | Cincinnati public corporation and associated investors | 1958–1966 | | Max and Jeremy Jacobs | 1966–1972 | | Kansas City ownership group led by local businessmen | 1972–1982 | | Restructured Kansas City ownership group | 1982–1983 | | Joseph Benvenuti, Frank and Gregg Lukenbill, Bob A. Cook, Frank McCormick, and Stephen H. Cippa | 1983–1992 | | Jim Thomas | 1992–1999 | | Maloof family | 1999–2013 | | Vivek Ranadivé-led ownership group | 2013–present | The franchise’s official media guide documents these ownership transitions, including the 1983 purchase that made the move to Sacramento possible. The Maloofs took controlling ownership in 1999, and Ranadivé’s group purchased the team in 2013. Basketball Hall of Fame: Kings and Royals Legends The franchise’s Hall of Fame legacy spans the Rochester Royals, Cincinnati Royals, Kansas City Kings, and Sacramento Kings. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame recognizes players and coaches for their overall basketball contributions, so not every inductee earned the honor exclusively for work with this franchise. The following are especially important figures whose careers included significant contributions to the Kings/Royals organization. Players Bob Davies: The Rochester Royals’ pioneering point… Continue reading Sacramento Kings: A Complete History
Tag: NBA
Dallas Wings: Complete WNBA Franchise History
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Connecticut Sun: The Complete History
The history of the Connecticut Sun is one of the most unusual stories in professional basketball. The franchise began in Orlando as the Orlando Miracle in 1999, moved to Connecticut in 2003, became the first WNBA franchise independently owned outside an NBA organization, reached the WNBA Finals four times, produced two league MVPs and a Rookie of the Year, and built a reputation around toughness, defense and consistency. The Connecticut chapter of the franchise comes to an end after the 2026 season, when the team moves to Houston under new ownership. The WNBA approved the sale to Tilman J. Fertitta in May 2026, with the relocation scheduled for the 2027 season. The Beginning: The Orlando Miracle The franchise entered the WNBA as the Orlando Miracle for the 1999 season. The team was part of the RDV Sports organization associated with Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos. The Miracle played in Orlando from 1999 through 2002. The Miracle’s best season came in 2000, when the club finished 16-16 and reached the playoffs. Players such as Nykesha Sales, Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Shannon Johnson became important parts of the franchise’s early identity. After the 2002 season, the franchise was moved to Connecticut. The Move to Connecticut In 2003, the Mohegan Tribe purchased the franchise and moved it from Orlando to Uncasville, Connecticut, renaming it the Connecticut Sun. The move was historic because the Mohegan Tribe became the first Native American tribe to own a professional sports franchise. The Sun immediately became a unique WNBA franchise. Rather than sharing a market with an NBA team, the club was built around the Mohegan Sun complex and developed a strong identity of its own. The team quickly became competitive. Under head coach Mike Thibault, Connecticut reached the WNBA Finals in both 2004 and 2005. The Sun also established itself as one of the league’s most consistent playoff franchises. Connecticut Sun Ownership History Connecticut Sun owners 1. Rich DeVos / RDV Sports — Orlando Miracle Era 1999-2002 The franchise began as the Orlando Miracle under the ownership structure of RDV Sports, associated with Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos. 2. Mohegan Tribe — Connecticut Sun Era 2003-2026 The Mohegan Tribe purchased the franchise in 2003 and relocated it to Connecticut. The Mohegan ownership period lasted more than two decades and became the defining era of the franchise. The Sun reached the WNBA Finals four times during this period: 2004, 2005, 2019 and 2022. 3. Tilman J. Fertitta — Houston Era Beginning in 2027 In May 2026, the WNBA and NBA approved the sale of the Connecticut Sun to Tilman J. Fertitta. The franchise will relocate to Houston following the 2026 season. Thus, the ownership history is: Rich DeVos / RDV Sports — 1999-2002 Mohegan Tribe — 2003-2026 Tilman J. Fertitta — 2027 forward Every Arena the Franchise Has Called Home TD Waterhouse Centre — Orlando The Orlando Miracle played its home games at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando from 1999 through 2002. The arena later became known as the Amway Arena before being demolished in 2012. Mohegan Sun Arena — Uncasville, Connecticut When the franchise moved to Connecticut in 2003, it established Mohegan Sun Arena as its permanent home. The 10,000-seat arena became one of the most recognizable venues in the WNBA and was the center of Connecticut Sun basketball for 24 seasons. Additional 2026 Home Dates The Sun’s final Connecticut season included special home games outside Mohegan Sun Arena. In 2026, Connecticut also hosted regular-season games at: Peoples Bank Arena — Hartford, Connecticut TD Garden — Boston, Massachusetts These were special 2026 home dates rather than permanent replacements for Mohegan Sun Arena. WNBA Hall of Fame and Basketball Hall of Fame Connections The Sun have had several players and coaches who are members of major basketball halls of fame. However, there is an important distinction: being a Hall of Famer who played for Connecticut is not necessarily the same thing as being inducted because of accomplishments achieved as a Sun. Following that distinction, the most important names are: Taj McWilliams-Franklin Taj McWilliams-Franklin was one of the foundational stars of the Connecticut Sun. She helped lead Connecticut to the WNBA Finals in 2004 and 2005 and was a six-time WNBA All-Star. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024. Her Hall of Fame résumé covers her entire career, however, rather than being exclusively a, Connecticut Sun achievement. Lindsay Whalen Lindsay Whalen played for Connecticut from 2004 through 2009 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022. Her Hall of Fame career, however, is most closely associated with her tremendous accomplishments with the Minnesota Lynx, including four WNBA championships. Therefore, under the specific criterion of not counting players or coaches whose Hall of Fame credentials were primarily earned with another team, Whalen should not be listed as a Sun Hall of Famer. Rebecca Lobo Rebecca Lobo finished her WNBA career with Connecticut and is a Naismith Hall of Famer. Her greatest professional accomplishments came before joining the Sun, particularly during her early WNBA career with the New York Liberty, so she also does not qualify under a strict “earned the Hall of Fame as a Sun” standard. Under the strict standard requested here—Hall of Fame recognition earned as a Connecticut Sun player or coach rather than primarily through accomplishments with another organization—the Sun do not currently have a Naismith Hall of Fame player whose induction was based specifically on a Connecticut Sun career. That distinction is important because the Sun have nevertheless employed several Hall of Fame-caliber players and coaches. WNBA Rookie of the Year as a Sun Player The Connecticut Sun have had one player win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award while playing for the franchise: Tina Charles — 2010 The Sun selected Tina Charles No. 1 overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft. Charles immediately became one of the league’s dominant interior players and won the 2010 WNBA Rookie of the… Continue reading Connecticut Sun: The Complete History
NBA Vs WNBA PLAYER PAY
I was wondering about WHY the WNBA players were constantly complaining about the pay they receive compared to the money NBA players make. (I say “make” instead of earn because, although they make their living this way, IT is still a GAME. In my day we played a game because we had fun, and enjoyed playing basketball. I would play any time, any place all day long. To be paid for it was just a bonus.). Early NBA players played pretty much the same way. Many had second jobs, (as do the WNBA players), to supplement their life expenses. Now they do not play BASKETBALL. They play a different game. Made up of some REAL BASKETBALL RULES, but a great many new rules, to make the game easier, and make more money for doing it. But I digress. Back to the title subject I figured the reason the ladies didn’t make the same money as the guys, was because the WNBA doesn’t generate the income as the NBA. But after looking into the situation more closely I found a real reason for the complaint. It appears to me now a valid reason. So here is what I found that changed my mind. Here’s how the NBA and WNBA compare in terms of league income and what players earn on average, based on the most recent reliable data: — League Revenue & Player Pay: NBA vs. WNBA Revenue Share for Players In the NBA, players receive approximately 50% of league revenue under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) . In contrast, WNBA players currently get only about 9.3% of the league’s revenue—far less than their male counterparts . Some sources mention a higher—though conditional—share of around 20%, tied to surpassing revenue targets , but the widely accepted figure remains 9.3%. — Average Player Salaries NBA Average NBA salary is around $11.9 million per year . Other sources estimate about $9.6 million . WNBA The average WNBA base salary in 2025 is approximately $102,249 . Some higher-end estimates place it closer to $147,745 . Current salary range (2025): Minimum ~$66,000, Maximum ~$249,000–$252,000 . — Summary Comparison Category NBA (approx.) WNBA (approx.) Player Revenue Share ~50% ~9.3% Average Salary $9.6M – $11.9M $102K – $148K Salary Range (Min–Max) ~$1M – >$50M ~$66K – ~$252K — Key Takeaways Huge financial resource gap between leagues explains much of the pay disparity. Structural disparity persists, as WNBA players receive a much smaller share of revenue despite growing league popularity . The WNBA is actively negotiating a new CBA, seeking better revenue sharing and salaries in response to record attendance, rising media rights deals, and player advocacy . Views: 1
NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS WEEK 7 10/19-22-23/ 2023
Browns: Beat Colts after 4 BAD calls on Colts really late in the game 1.Apparently a forward shovel pass is now ruled a lateral pass and is not subject to the usual fumble rule or interception rule. 2. A pass that is out of the back of the end zone is catchable pass. 3. According to the Refs if on a TD drive if you get the Ball to the white goal line but not over it is a TD. This one I don’t know the rule. 4. If your hand slides ever so slightly on the receiver with out causing any alteration to the receivers stride or anything THAT is now PASS INTERFERNCE!!! Football is not football any more. Give me the times when players like Dick Butkus was playing. I remember him saying, “I don’t want to hurt anybody. I just want to see their heads rolling down the field” Whether that was in jest or not I do not know. But that is the way he played. NO! Football isn’t football any more. Seems to me NFL football is rapidly becoming more of a “Flag Football game.” Seems their exhuberance to make the game more safe. Has degutted the game. I am getting to dislike the game more each week. It is getting closer to the times of the NBA strike. In order to attract an audience they chose people like Michael Jordan, (a good player), SEEM, to be exceptional by allowing him to break all the rules. And allowing an “iNDEFENDABLE SHOT” . There is an extended line above the goal in which if your hand enters it is “GOAL TENDING”, NOW it is legal for the offensive player to enter this area to “DUNK” a ball and score. HOWEVER if a defenders hand is in that extended circle. It is called as “GOAL TENDING’ and the offensive team is awarded 2 points whether it goes in or not. Like I said there is no way to defend against it. Considering many of today’s players can touch the rim without even jumping. I fail to see the excitement in watching this act. When the game began the average player was about 5 ft 8 in. Putting the rim over 4 ft above their head. Sure you had some players taller. But if capable of “dunking” , they didn’t because that would be GOAL TENDING. I think it is way past time to raise the goal, by the same amount as the average player of today. 12 foot goals, I think are both unreasonable. While on the subject. Many rules need to be enforced. Nearly all players “palm the ball today, and then the announcers talk about how much control the players have while dribbling. Of course you can control the ball better when you can carry the ball. Basketball used to be a “NON CONTACT SPORT”. Now you have more contact than is allowed in FOOTBALL. The MLB is just as guilty after the big STRIKE. (which is when I quit watching MLB. I used to watch the CUBS play everyday, (before the lights), and the Braves every night. But to get the crowd back they “unofficially’ sanctioned the use of PED (Performance Enhancing Drugs), To produce super sluggers chasing Maris’ season home run record. The only reason was to entice people to watch the game. I have watched 1, one game of MLB since then. That was because my Cubs were playing my son’s Braves and it was a birthday present. Now College basketball is a professional game. Not only do the athletes get a “FREE EDUCATION’ I and most students today PAY for. The Athlete gets endorsements too. If they are very good it could make them a millionaire before they graduate. I remember the story of a “a student athlete basketball player in the movie HOOSIERS, lost his elgibility for ACTING as a basketball player in the movie. Bah !! Humbug!! to professional and college sports. I still like Australian football and Rugby. But do not get to see that often. I enjoy Rally Car Racing, which is really hard to find on TV. NOW I enjoy watching the little ones play. They play, have fun. Go home. I have to admit there are some bad coaches, players with attitude, and some of the umpires who have no idea what the rules are. Of course there are different rules according to what area you are in. I have no problem with this as long as the rules are applied equally. O.L.Thymer agrees. He said it is more fun watching his great grandchildren play. He will travel nearly 100 miles one way, sometimes 1 day, sometimes 2 days, sometimes 3 days (for the travel team games), to watch them play, other days they may play as close as 30 miles away each way. Believe me. I’ve seen him do this 2-3 weeks in a row. But now that he is having a little more trouble driving at night he may leave before a game is finished. RANT OVER. For now. SORRY for turning this Football based talk into non football opinions. But the idea behind starting fromthemiddleblog.com was to air my opinions. And maybe what I said here should have been a separate post. But I think it is all tied in. COLTS: Owner, Jim Irsay states, QB Anthony Richardson will “probably” miss rest of season, (a damaged AC joint to his shoulder), after last Sunday’s game against Titans. He will be undergoing surgery. For those of you who are new here. This is how confidence ranking goes, let me explain. If we were playing an office pool,(which we ARE NOT). The object is to score the most points. To obtain the score YOU rank the teams by how confident you are a team will win its game. EXAMPLE: Say this week we have 16 games. The team you are most confident will win you would assign the number 16 and follow down to the team you… Continue reading NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS WEEK 7 10/19-22-23/ 2023
Baltimore Ravens Win !!!
Perhaps the L-O-N-G-E-S-T Super Bowl game in History. BALTIMORE’S RAVENS bested the SAN FRANCISCO FORTY-NINER’S by a score of 34-31. Last night Championship was extended by a power outage. I have read some say it was an external feed, and another report that it was snafu inside the arena; an equipment failure. Either way the side line announcers had the burden of filling in unexpected time. Another thing that made it seem longer to me was the half baked,…er time show. I know many of you are Beyonce fans. But I would like to have more entertainment than a bunch of women in their swimsuits jumping around and making noise. I actually switched over to watch bits of a COLUMBO re-run. Now to the game. Yes my Math and my Scientific methods both failed. Therefore I could claim the Ravens win to be a fluke. But that was not the case. In fact it came down to, (as I said), D-E-F-E-N-S-E. Baltimore brought their defense and San Francisco’s was running way late on it’s arrival. I believe both QB’s did an excellent job. I also believe had San Francisco got their defense together before the power failure. They would have won the game. But they didn’t, and they didn’t. The game hinged on the 108 yard return by Ravens’ Jacoby Jones. There is no way that return should have happened. The 49’ers defense left the whole field unprotected. No one stayed back. Just as in a high school game I watched this past season. The kicker rushed down and tackled the receiver 5 yards after the catch. But that was a mistake. Even though he was able to do that. His coach wasted no time in letting him know it was a mistake. The rest of the season he stayed back and saved many potential scores. Flacco was GIFTED the MVP. Yeah, he did a good job. WAS it a better job than Kaepernick. Not in my eyes. The true MVP was the Ravens DEFENSE. But how do you give MVP, (the “P” is singular) to a group. Thus you give it to a single person. Jacoby Jones would be a fair choice, it was his run back that won the game. But that was only one play. The DEFENSE on the other hand was on thier game most all night. So I suppose as the QB is often considered the leader an Spokesman for the team, Flacco would be give MVP, on behalf of the team. After all , as in any T-E-A-M SPORT, one person can not win the game by himself. Congratulations to the BALTIMORE RAVENS. And I want to compliment fans on both sides. I have not seen any reports of rioting or anything. This shows me their fans are (both Baltimore, and San Francisco), are CHAMPIONS too. Hope to see you NFL fans back here again next year. I have time to try to figure what I did wrong this year. I suppose the next big event is NASCAR SEASON. and for some the NBA All-Star game. I don’t care for the All-Star game. Because they don’t really have any BASKETBALL stars. Merely Media Darlings. I will go into my feelings about the NBA at a later time. I may have opinions to share about NASCAR later. Looking forward to NCAA Basketball tournament. will give my picks, updates and OPINION; just like i did last year. For now We close the book on: 2012 FOOTBALL,and the 2013 SUPER BOWL XLVII. One final note some of the commercials were good. Some not. But at least some got more exposure due to the 34 minute delay. My favorite was, again Budweiser, with the CLYDESDALE COLT. Thank you for indulging me. Views: 103
Fair TAX???
As most sport fans know our professional sports players pay Federal Income Tax. They also pay State Tax. However did you know they pay the STATE TAX to the state they earn the money in. Not necessarily their home state. Let’s say a Eli Manning plays a game at Indianapolis. The money he earned for that game is taxed by the state of Indiana. (I can only assume local city, county, etc. taxes are also collected). Can you imagine the tax nightmare? Does he have to prepare a tax form for every state he earns money. Does this include personal appearances also? But here comes the rub. I recently read..Pius Heinz, a German poker player won $8,715,636.oo in the WORLD SERIES OF POKER, in Las Vegas TAX FREE !!!! Martin Stazko of the Czech Republic the second place finisher won $5,433,080.oo. Neither of these men will pay tax on any of this 14 million plus earnings. However third place winner, Ben Lamb a resident of the good old USA will have to pay approximately $1,524,011.oo on his $4,021039.oo Fourth place finisher Mark Gianetti, another USA Citizen won $3,012,700.oo but will have to surrender $1,524,642.oo to the Federal Government. Granted the 2 nd place winner will have to pay taxes in his native Czech Republic. Due to Germany’s tax exempt gambling law, Herr Heinz will pay NO TAXES. That is almost $14 million of U.S. Currency leaving the country, with no return to our treasury. Does anyone else see anything wrong with this? I sure do. This Is How I See It. Views: 892
NBA Strike. Fans Strike Back
The Bible has the 10 Commandments. One of those commandments is “Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You”. I am asking you to do this for the NBA. Neither the owners or players, took into account the fans wishes when they entered into this STRIKE/LOCKOUT. Causing the Die Hard fans anguish. With little or no regard. I admit I am not a Die Hard Fan of the NBA, only rarely watching a portion of a Professional game. I think everyone should GO ON STRIKE/LOCKOUT against the NBA. No one should attend or watch on TV or listen on Radio. The same number of games you have been deprived of by the on going actions of the NBA. It only sounds fair to me. But, alas the fans are weak and will give in willingly to the NBA machine. It’s Time for the fans to retaliate, and make a stand. Passing the message to Professional sports that the FAN also has a say in these matters. It is only fair. STRIKE back LOCKOUT the NBA. That Is How I See It. have been Views: 576
NBA Lockout
Here we go again. Multimillionaire vs Multimillionaires, (or billionaires), who knows, who cares. The NBA claims the league lost $300 million this past season. The league will tell you it is the players fault. The players will say it’s the owners fault. I’ll take the blame. I haven’t been to a professional game in years, therefore it must be my fault because I didn’t pay to watch a bunch of overpaid people play a game I would play for free. No! I don’t take advantage of watching them on TV. Will they never learn? We had the NBA lockout in what (1998), then to get people back they created “SUPER STARS’, By allowing certain players to not follow the rules, and blasting their names on anything, and everything. These were decent players before, (Let me explain. I look at the overall skills of a player to rate them. If a player scores 30 points a game but puts up 60 shots; does this mean he is a great player. If a player is allowed to go from one end of the floor to the other with only 3 dribbles, is he a good ball handler. The answer in my opinion is NO!) The fact that professional basketball is not real BASKETBALL, but comparative to professional wrestling. They give what the so-called fans want. That’s OK it is merely a business, BIG BUSINESS, but business. In the NBA’s greed, they started raising ticket, and licensing fees. Then the players said Hey I want some of that. And I have no quarrel here. What we have here is: The NBA owns the company. The players contract with different teams for the most money they can get. It is just business. Who cares? Will we not be able to feed our kids if the two can’t reach agreement. Probably we would have more money in our pockets. I suggest if you want to see exciting BASKETBALL take in a grade school, (or as some of the upper class prefer elementary school), games, Jr high or middle school, or high school. Or a nearby division 2 or 3 College game. It won’t cost you nearly as much, and you will most likely see a more competitive game than the NBA will offer. And I’m sure your school and community could use the money. That Is How I See It. high school merely Views: 715
Indiana Pacer Economics
It seems the Indiana Pacers, who was in last place in attendance, despite a more successful season than in several years past. Have come up with their own Economic Theory. Actually it is not an original theory. And I have discussed this before so forgive me if I occasionally repeat myself. For some reason the Pacers have decided if you can’t sell more tickets just raise the cost per ticket. What is the effect of this? Apparently they subscribe to the theory that if you charge more it increases the value of your product. How about decreasing overhead. I know Indiana is a small market, and to compete with the larger market teams, You have to pay players more to keep them. But there is always the path taken by the Chicago Cubs. Player development. What kept the Cubs going through all these losing years. Developing players for other teams. How many top players in the last 30-40 years were brought up by the Cubs only to go on to other teams. Think about it, I remember the rumors always that Wrigley made more money by taking players other teams wanted to develop, doing just that and collecting his money. As I have stated before the way to increase profit is to decrease ticket prices, which will put more people in your seats. This serves three purposes. 1 IMAGE. It looks better if you have seats filled. It gives the impression that you are more successful. 2. Increased CONCESSION, and SOUVENIR sales. Souvenirs equal ADVERTISING. 3. Do the math. 50% seats filled with a 9% ticket increase. or 100% seats filled without a 9% ticket increase. If you are filled to capacity every night then you can experiment with raising prices. That Is How I See It. several years Views: 114
