Top 5 Reasons Fans are Leaving the NBA

[Fafnir]

More on topic, I'm not sure that the NBA is losing fans overall - they're expanding rapidly into international markets, and as Simmons has pointed out, they're in a much better position demographically than baseball or hockey. 

Attendance is definitely slipping in some areas, but I think a lot of that is based on the economy - the crash happened last year after individuals had committed to season tickets and businesses to luxury suites.  The effects of the crash are mainly gonna be on this year's receipts. 

Yes, though I still think the league's current financial structure is screwy. The luxury tax forces competitive teams in all but the best financial situations to lose money.

True - I don't mind the overall idea of the luxury tax, but the ceiling should be raised or the tax should be tiered somehow to avoid the current rash of teams crippling their competitiveness to avoid it.  The flipside too is that guys like Donald Sterling get a large financial incentive to keeping payrolls low instead of striving to be competitive.  Unfortunately I don't know if it'll get any better with the next CBA.

I think we're going to see some major changes in the next CBA so that teams can win and make money. That'll be the goal for a lot of owners, but who knows how it will all turn out.

The NBA players association currently has a pretty good agreement. They should be fighting tough and nail against too many concessions.

[bdm860]

Didn't know it....heard it last night....quite a shame with all the talent these days...

What are you talking about?  Is this a fact or somebody's opinion?  Where did you hear this? Is there a link? 

[wiley]

Didn't know it....heard it last night....quite a shame with all the talent these days...

What are you talking about?  Is this a fact or somebody's opinion?  Where did you hear this? Is there a link? 

I think it was Mike Gorman, maybe along with someone else on last night's pre-game show...they criticized the fining of Jennings for his tweet after the game, saying the NBA should just stay away from that whole area.

Stay away because, to paraphrase:  With the NBA losing fans you'd think they would want all the promo (different word) they can get...

In other words, NBA shooting itself in foot with Tweet control during a time when fans are aleady leaving....

[bdm860]

Didn't know it....heard it last night....quite a shame with all the talent these days...

What are you talking about?  Is this a fact or somebody's opinion?  Where did you hear this? Is there a link? 

I think it was Mike Gorman, maybe along with someone else on last night's pre-game show...they criticized the fining of Jennings for his tweet after the game, saying the NBA should just stay away from that whole area.

Stay away because, to paraphrase:  With the NBA losing fans you'd think they would want all the promo (different word) they can get...

In other words, NBA shooting itself in foot with Tweet control during a time when fans are aleady leaving....

I love Mike Gorman, but I doubt the NBA is really losing fans.  It's cyclical.  Maybe tv ratings are down a few percentage points or attendance is down a little or merchadise sales are a little low, but even if the NBA changes nothing, most of the measurements will bounce back with the economy.

People say the NBA was better back in the day, like in the 80's.  In 1986 (with the great teams like Boston, Lakers, Philly, and superstars like Magic, Larry, and Michael in full effect) the NBA was still showing playoff games on tape delay! 


I'm going to need some proof besides "Mike Gorman says the NBA is losing fans"

[CbrewEra]

Listening to TNT or any announcer talk about Lebron.  "Wow so muscular and athletic and the king"  I mean come on I don't need to hear your deepest desires to be the king's queen, i wanna hear real commentating

[Donoghus]

I know the paid average attendance numbers and league revenues are down right now but I chalk that up more to the current econonomic environment than anything on the floor.

If anything, I think this league is in a lot better shape now than it was at the beginning of the decade when the league was still recovering from the lockout.  People were complaining about the salaries back then too but I also think the league was really struggling to define its image in the Post-Jordan era. (Before the whole Wizards thing).  If anything, I think the perception of the league back then was more "me-first" than now.  From what I remember, it was a lot more "one on one" and individual play back then.

Obviously the league still has the alpha dogs of world like Lebron & Kobe.  However, I think we're seeing more "team play" these days and there are some outstanding teams in the league right now.  Not too mention the revitalization of the Celtics franchise and a Lakers-Celtics rivlary rebirth which, lets face it, draws in the casual fan.  There's been some great young talent to come into the league the last few years with guys like Durant, Rose, etc. as well as the vaunted '03 draft class entering its prime.  I know some potential storm clouds loom on the horizon with the CBA but for the most part things are well.

I think this league is a lot better now than it was 10 years ago.

[Brickowski]

Didn't know it....heard it last night....quite a shame with all the talent these days...

1.  Marketing (individuals over teams)
2.  Pussification (not allowing players to police themeselves)
3.  Me-ism: the generational swing towards focus on me, me and more me (salaries?)
4.  Marketing (the constant self congratulations of do-good NBA programs (keep that stuff local ala coverage of Ray Allen's recent event, and limit the national stuff except what's really   
     important and profound)
5.  Constant blowing of ref's whistle, slowing the game down to a crawl   
6.  Media extravaganza:  Glitz, glam, squeals, hyper shifting t.v. screens, at some level watching sports is supposed to be a way to relax after being bombarded by the real world day in and day out, get rid of the macho hype, trash-talk inspiring video game crap.

Okay, top 6 reasons(sorry)                                             

Regarding # 4:  I can't stand when in the middle of an intense playoff or finals battle, they shut everything down for some long, self-congratulatory piece about this or that good deed the N.B.A. is doing.  At that point, it should be all about who's winning that game.  Talk about removing us from the action and reminding us of reality again

Here are the real top six reasons


1. Horrible officiating
2. Horrible officiating
3. Horrible officiating
4. Horrible officiating
5. Horrible officiating

6. Ticket prices

[jackson_34]

It's funny, I'm not sure of the national fan base leaving but the international fans seem to be growing and growing (as the NBA understands with its euro and Asia trips and Stern's desire to host regular season games in china and other areas at some point).

This year would be a tough one for Asian markets with Yao and Yi gone for a long time, but the market is still there and active with the example of TMac being at the top in voting for the All-Star game.

[liam]

Didn't know it....heard it last night....quite a shame with all the talent these days...

What are you talking about?  Is this a fact or somebody's opinion?  Where did you hear this? Is there a link? 

I think it was Mike Gorman, maybe along with someone else on last night's pre-game show...they criticized the fining of Jennings for his tweet after the game, saying the NBA should just stay away from that whole area.

Stay away because, to paraphrase:  With the NBA losing fans you'd think they would want all the promo (different word) they can get...

In other words, NBA shooting itself in foot with Tweet control during a time when fans are aleady leaving....

I love Mike Gorman, but I doubt the NBA is really losing fans.  It's cyclical.  Maybe tv ratings are down a few percentage points or attendance is down a little or merchadise sales are a little low, but even if the NBA changes nothing, most of the measurements will bounce back with the economy.

People say the NBA was better back in the day, like in the 80's.  In 1986 (with the great teams like Boston, Lakers, Philly, and superstars like Magic, Larry, and Michael in full effect) the NBA was still showing playoff games on tape delay! 


I'm going to need some proof besides "Mike Gorman says the NBA is losing fans"

The NBA was showing games on tape delay in the 80s?
I don't remember that. The 70s yes. But the 80S?

[dark_lord]

here are some reasons:

1.  corrupt officiating
2.  terrible officiating
3.  flopping
4.  dictatorship (any1 who dare says anything, even if respectfully and makes valid point.....gets fined/suspended)
5.  marketing of individuals rather than teams
6.  its a soft league.....there are no tough guys anymore, and if there are, the refs have them by the gonads.
7.  its more about entertainment and less about the sport.

[fairweatherfan]

Didn't know it....heard it last night....quite a shame with all the talent these days...

What are you talking about?  Is this a fact or somebody's opinion?  Where did you hear this? Is there a link? 

I think it was Mike Gorman, maybe along with someone else on last night's pre-game show...they criticized the fining of Jennings for his tweet after the game, saying the NBA should just stay away from that whole area.

Stay away because, to paraphrase:  With the NBA losing fans you'd think they would want all the promo (different word) they can get...

In other words, NBA shooting itself in foot with Tweet control during a time when fans are aleady leaving....

I love Mike Gorman, but I doubt the NBA is really losing fans.  It's cyclical.  Maybe tv ratings are down a few percentage points or attendance is down a little or merchadise sales are a little low, but even if the NBA changes nothing, most of the measurements will bounce back with the economy.

People say the NBA was better back in the day, like in the 80's.  In 1986 (with the great teams like Boston, Lakers, Philly, and superstars like Magic, Larry, and Michael in full effect) the NBA was still showing playoff games on tape delay! 


I'm going to need some proof besides "Mike Gorman says the NBA is losing fans"

The NBA was showing games on tape delay in the 80s?
I don't remember that. The 70s yes. But the 80S?

They tape-delayed Finals games til 1981.  1980 and 1981 had Lakers or Celtics, and they still tape delayed both of em.  The league has gained far more in the last 30 years than it might've lost recently.

[bdm860]

Didn't know it....heard it last night....quite a shame with all the talent these days...

What are you talking about?  Is this a fact or somebody's opinion?  Where did you hear this? Is there a link? 

I think it was Mike Gorman, maybe along with someone else on last night's pre-game show...they criticized the fining of Jennings for his tweet after the game, saying the NBA should just stay away from that whole area.

Stay away because, to paraphrase:  With the NBA losing fans you'd think they would want all the promo (different word) they can get...

In other words, NBA shooting itself in foot with Tweet control during a time when fans are aleady leaving....

I love Mike Gorman, but I doubt the NBA is really losing fans.  It's cyclical.  Maybe tv ratings are down a few percentage points or attendance is down a little or merchadise sales are a little low, but even if the NBA changes nothing, most of the measurements will bounce back with the economy.

People say the NBA was better back in the day, like in the 80's.  In 1986 (with the great teams like Boston, Lakers, Philly, and superstars like Magic, Larry, and Michael in full effect) the NBA was still showing playoff games on tape delay! 


I'm going to need some proof besides "Mike Gorman says the NBA is losing fans"

The NBA was showing games on tape delay in the 80s?
I don't remember that. The 70s yes. But the 80S?

They tape-delayed Finals games til 1981.  1980 and 1981 had Lakers or Celtics, and they still tape delayed both of em.  The league has gained far more in the last 30 years than it might've lost recently.

This is per wikipedia (so not the most concrete source)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_on_CBS#Tape_delay_and_playoff_scheduling

Tape delay and playoff scheduling

From 1975-1979 CBS aired all NBA Finals games live (usually during the afternoon). Starting in 1982, CBS resumed live coverage of all NBA Finals games. During this era, CBS aired weeknight playoff games from earlier rounds on tape delay at 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time (airing games live when the game site was in the Pacific Time Zone). CBS continued this practice until at least the mid-1980s.

CBS didn't want sportscasters to give the final score on the 11 p.m./10 p.m. newscasts. They preferred the games to not be over by that time if they were going to be aired on tape later that night. Most CBS games were either 8:30 p.m. or 9 p.m. local starts. For instance, CBS aired Games 1-3 of the 1981 Western Conference Finals (between the Houston Rockets and Kansas City Kings). Ironically, CBS featured both Western teams finished the regular season with a record 40-42 instead of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers (both teams finished with a 60-22 record).

1986 was the last year that CBS ever aired an NBA playoff game on tape delay. It was Game 3 (on Friday, May 16) of the playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets. The game aired at 11:30 p.m. after having a 9:30 p.m. tip.

[gar]

1. Questionable Officiating
2. Crazed and pampered athletes that act like idiots
3. David Stern
4. Uneven effort compared with college game
5. Bias for against players, hyping of individuals over team game.

OK that is Six

[davemonsterband]

There are only two just like hockey, the league going soft and floppy because of Europeans.

[lon3lytoaster]

Because it isn't as good as the 90's.