Are The Celtics Really Considered A Big Market Team.... Or Mid-Market?

[Phantom255x]

I ask this because just from my observations, it seems like people who aren't Celtics fans consider Boston more of a mid-market team (sort of like the Spurs, Blazers, Hawks, Thunder, etc.), while they think the extreme growth of teams like Miami, LAC, Golden State over the years make them more "Big Market" along with the obvious NY, LAL, CHI.

My pal from Atlanta thinks Boston is a big market team BUT on the lower end of that spectrum (as in there are like 8-9 other "valuable/bigger" teams right now). He thinks the legacy and championships of the past are what keeps Boston big market for now (which is probably/likely true).

I know Forbes back in January 2016 made a list ranking the franchises by value, and Boston came 4th trailing Chicago, NY, and LAL (no surprise there). LA and NY are always a big market because their cities are much larger (than Boston as well), and television market is enormous. When it comes to nationally televised games like those on ABC.. they usually choose NY, LAL, LAC, MIA, GSW, CHI, OKC, etc. before a Boston game, even if LA/NY are having a horrible season. That's probably representative of the market too. (Not that I really care about whether the Celtics game is nationally televised or not..)

I don't know am I overthinking this? I know it doesn't really matter in a sense but I'm just curious.  I've always considered Boston Big Market and that's why I assume, like Wyc did in the Big 3 Era, soon he will be willing to pay a HUGE luxury tax to keep key players around and to build a contender.

[saltlover]

I wouldn't say the Celtics ever paid a "huge" luxury tax bill.  They never owed more than the 4th-highest amount in luxury tax, and their luxury tax was never more than 25% of their payroll.  For comparison, last year the Cavs paid a tax that was an extra 50% of their payroll.  This year the Cavs are paying 22% of their payroll as an added tax, but that's only because the cap spike saved them (they're one of only two teams in line to pay the tax this year.)

I think they will choose winning over avoiding the luxury tax, but I don't expect that they'll consistently have one of the top 4 payrolls.

[bmac934]

Were 100% a big market team by my definition of it.  But I see your perspective and in terms of attraction to players around the league (because of taxes and weather and factors like that - certainly not in the sense of appeal to what we have built & the history of the celtics) I would consider us a mid market team.

[Phantom255x]

I wouldn't say the Celtics ever paid a "huge" luxury tax bill.  They never owed more than the 4th-highest amount in luxury tax, and their luxury tax was never more than 25% of their payroll.  For comparison, last year the Cavs paid a tax that was an extra 50% of their payroll.  This year the Cavs are paying 22% of their payroll as an added tax, but that's only because the cap spike saved them (they're one of only two teams in line to pay the tax this year.)

I think they will choose winning over avoiding the luxury tax, but I don't expect that they'll consistently have one of the top 4 payrolls.

Yeah I get your point. I'm just assuming Ainge keeps 2 of IT/Smart/Bradley going forward and extensions to those 2 + any other FA signings could actually make Wyc pay a pretty hefty luxury tax (maybe not "huge" as I emphasize, but a decent amount still to the FO).

[wdleehi]

A big market team in a sport where a lot of the players seem to have the desire to play in a warm weather town. 

[Moranis]

Boston is the 7th largest television market.  That would make it a big market.  The mid tier markets probably start with Detroit (11th) which is behind Houston (10th).  Somewhere in the Orlando/Sacramento range the small markets begin.

http://www.stationindex.com/tv/tv-markets

Obviously this isn't an exact science because Miami is obviously a greater draw than Minnesota despite having a smaller television market, but that should be a pretty good gauge. 

[Phantom255x]

Boston is the 7th largest television market.  That would make it a big market.  The mid tier markets probably start with Detroit (11th) which is behind Houston (10th).  Somewhere in the Orlando/Sacramento range the small markets begin.

http://www.stationindex.com/tv/tv-markets

Obviously this isn't an exact science because Miami is obviously a greater draw than Minnesota despite having a smaller television market, but that should be a pretty good gauge.

Thanks. TP for the link.

[Phantom255x]

A big market team in a sport where a lot of the players seem to have the desire to play in a warm weather town.

That's a pretty good view of it. Also plays a factor sometimes in FA (exception: Al Horford  )

[Londongreen]

Isn't the celtics like the 4th most valuable organisation after lakers, knicks and bulls? Plus the celtics have a huge market in new england. A large history. A huge fanbase.

So yeah, the Cs are a big market team. No small market team is worth over 2 billion dollars.

[apc]

Which SB Nation blog has the most members?
Thats how you solve this !

[Phantom255x]

Isn't the celtics like the 4th most valuable organisation after lakers, knicks and bulls? Plus the celtics have a huge market in new england. A large history. A huge fanbase.

So yeah, the Cs are a big market team. No small market team is worth over 2 billion dollars.

Yeah I even said that in my original post here:

I know Forbes back in January 2016 made a list ranking the franchises by value, and Boston came 4th trailing Chicago, NY, and LAL (no surprise there). LA and NY are always a big market because their cities are much larger (than Boston as well), and television market is enormous. When it comes to nationally televised games like those on ABC.. they usually choose NY, LAL, LAC, MIA, GSW, CHI, OKC, etc. before a Boston game, even if LA/NY are having a horrible season. That's probably representative of the market too. (Not that I really care about whether the Celtics game is nationally televised or not..)

[Phantom255x]

Which SB Nation blog has the most members?
Thats how you solve this !

Is there a way to check that lol?

[Phantom255x]

The Wizards are considered a mid-market team yet they are about the same with Celtics in terms of largest television market.

[Phantom255x]

So as posted here earlier in the forums, the new Forbes ranking came out, and the Celtics dropped to #5 (but still sit pretty with a franchise valued around 2.2 Billion).

It's a little understandable given the rise of the Warriors, but it goes to show you can have horrible teams and yet still have a ton of $$ thanks to TV deals and a big market (NYK, LAL).

[gift]

I ask this because just from my observations, it seems like people who aren't Celtics fans consider Boston more of a mid-market team (sort of like the Spurs, Blazers, Hawks, Thunder, etc.), while they think the extreme growth of teams like Miami, LAC, Golden State over the years make them more "Big Market" along with the obvious NY, LAL, CHI.

San Antonio and OKC are legit small markets. Boston is on the cusp of large market. You could consider it at the top of the mid-market, I guess. Or lower end of the big markets.