Last year, according to Nets spokesman Barry Baum, the Nets averaged home attendance of 17,000. (Actually, 16,972.) How are they doing this year at the newly-renamed Izod Center in the Meadowlands, capacity 19,990?
Even with 50% discount offers, they're not doing that well. The average for the first eight games is 15,105. (Attendance may improve when some more top-tier opponents come to town.)
Wednesday, October 31 vs. Chicago Bulls: 17,342.
Friday, November 2 vs. Toronto Raptors: 14,980.
Tuesday, November 6 vs. Atlanta Hawks: 12,336
Thursday, November 8 vs. Washington Bullets: 13,267
Saturday, November 10 vs. Boston Celtics: 18,171.
Monday, November 12 vs. New Orleans Hornets: 12,832.
Friday, November 16 vs. Orlando Magic: 15,115.
Saturday, November 17 vs. Miami Heat: 16,797.
What about the Devils?
And what about the New Jersey Devils, gone from the Meadowlands to the new Prudential Center in Newark? Only in the opening game and a game against nearby rivals the New York Rangers was there a sellout (17,625).
With attendance averaging 15,241, the Devils are doing slightly better than last year's average attendance of 14,176. That number of course is skewed by the new building and by one game with the Rangers.
But that masks a difference between the two facilities, and a main reason the Devils moved: the Prudential Center has many more luxury suites than the Izod Center. And that's why a Nets move to Brooklyn would be so lucrative: the Barclays Center would have many more suites than both facilities combined. And, of course, there's naming rights.
Saturday, October 27 vs. Ottawa Senators: 17,625.
Wednesday, October 31 vs. Tampa Bay Lighting: 13,218.
Friday, November 2 vs. Toronto Maple Leaps: 14,523.
Monday, November 5 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: 14,032.
Thursday, November 8 vs. Philadelphia Flyers: 14,948.
Wednesday, November 14 vs. New York Rangers: 17,265.
Friday, November 16 vs. New York Islanders: 15,076.
Even with 50% discount offers, they're not doing that well. The average for the first eight games is 15,105. (Attendance may improve when some more top-tier opponents come to town.)
Wednesday, October 31 vs. Chicago Bulls: 17,342.
Friday, November 2 vs. Toronto Raptors: 14,980.
Tuesday, November 6 vs. Atlanta Hawks: 12,336
Thursday, November 8 vs. Washington Bullets: 13,267
Saturday, November 10 vs. Boston Celtics: 18,171.
Monday, November 12 vs. New Orleans Hornets: 12,832.
Friday, November 16 vs. Orlando Magic: 15,115.
Saturday, November 17 vs. Miami Heat: 16,797.
What about the Devils?
And what about the New Jersey Devils, gone from the Meadowlands to the new Prudential Center in Newark? Only in the opening game and a game against nearby rivals the New York Rangers was there a sellout (17,625).
With attendance averaging 15,241, the Devils are doing slightly better than last year's average attendance of 14,176. That number of course is skewed by the new building and by one game with the Rangers.
But that masks a difference between the two facilities, and a main reason the Devils moved: the Prudential Center has many more luxury suites than the Izod Center. And that's why a Nets move to Brooklyn would be so lucrative: the Barclays Center would have many more suites than both facilities combined. And, of course, there's naming rights.
Saturday, October 27 vs. Ottawa Senators: 17,625.
Wednesday, October 31 vs. Tampa Bay Lighting: 13,218.
Friday, November 2 vs. Toronto Maple Leaps: 14,523.
Monday, November 5 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: 14,032.
Thursday, November 8 vs. Philadelphia Flyers: 14,948.
Wednesday, November 14 vs. New York Rangers: 17,265.
Friday, November 16 vs. New York Islanders: 15,076.
And your point would be?
ReplyDeleteThe Nets arena is as inconvenient as one can possibly be. Other than buses from Port Authority, there is no mass transit. Making matters worse, there is construction (Xanadu and the new Giants/Jets stadium) all around it.
Now, in Brooklyn, with 10 subway lines, the LIRR, and ultimately the JFK connector all beneath the Barclays Center, it will be a lot easier to get to. As the Nets president, Brett Yormark, has noted, it's eight minutes from Wall Street to the Atlantic Yards, closer than Madison Square Garden.
So you have just made a great argument for moving the team from New Jersey--either Newark or the Meadowlands--to Brooklyn.
As I've written before, the longer it takes for the future of Atlantic Yards to be resolved, the more compelling a move to Newark, at least as an interim.
ReplyDelete