As the Brooklyn Nets struggle and "tank," lots of backlash, including toward non-cheap tickets.

It’s not too early to state that the Nets (0-5) are not just a bad team," wrote Substack columnist Steve Lichtenstein Oct. 30. "They are also acutely displeasing to a basketball purist’s eyes."

The fan site NetsDaily suggested the Nets "may have one of worst defenses in NBA history."

Meanwhile, as NetsDaily editor-in-chief Anthony Puccio observed, "Nets ticket prices seem high for a tanking team. $44 to get in the door; $100+ to sit in the 100s." 

Still, the Nets sold out their first two home games, at the new capacity of 17,548 (from 17,732, to account for new entertainment space).

Well, surely they want to put a decent team on the floor while aiming for a choice draft spot, but it's a "sports entertainment corporation" (to quote subsidy skeptic Bettina Damiani) first and foremost, so there are different reasons people might attend, including fans of other teams, tourists, and others seeking a basketball experience that, however not a clear bargain, is less costly than that at Madison Garden,

 

Some bitterness 

In response to Puccio on X/Twitter, some diehard fans sounded bitter:

• For TEN years this organization has taken the Brooklyn base's money and delivered zero results when it comes to SUSTAINABILITY 
• That is CRAZY talk. @BrooklynNets I have to pay $44 minimum to watch the team I’ve been following for the last 25 years give up 125+ points and lose by 10+ every game? FIX IT.
• I know the Knicks have the masses, but the Nets have now been in Brooklyn long enough that a generation of fans has actually been born. And this year, unfortunately/fortunately feels like an expansion team
• As long as they stay high, there's little accountability for [GM Sean] Marks failures. [Owner Joe] Tsai seems more focused on making the nets a great business than on making them a great basketball team. The 2 aren't mutually exclusive, but you have to wonder if they were at odds during draft time.
• The Nets still play in NYC this ain’t Jersey days Puc. People in NYC love basketball and will spend to watch it regardless of the winning status of the team. There’s also fans of other teams that live in the city. NYC loves basketball entertainment and these prices are peanuts!
• This is why Tsai doesn’t care. Foreigners continue to sell out games so he can’t throw whatever bs product on the floor.
• They need to lower these fucking prices. The few of us who actually support the team are constantly disrespected by this unserious organization.@joetsai1999

Promises, promises

Puccio wrote,"I remember @AYReport piece when Nets first moved to Brooklyn mentioning how proud the org was to provide affordable seating and pricing. “We have 2,000 seats priced at 15 dollars and under,” Brett Yormark said. 

He cited my skeptical report in City Limits. (I didn't make enough of the "and under" quote.)

I  responded that the Nets, after one year, raised tickets once priced at $15 and $25 by $10 each. "After giving everyone a sampling opportunity, we are a business," said Yormark.  

That's for sure.

I also observed that, for visitors who want the experience of an "NBA match" (to quote a Get Your Guide review) and don't know much about basketball, the Nets/Barclays surely offer a better deal than Knicks/MSG." So casual sports entertainment is a thing for tourists in New York City.