Even the multi-billion dollar enterprises of professional sports have been hit hard by the recession. The NBA in particular has been hit especially hard, with many smaller market teams struggling with huge contracts and half empty arenas. While the New York Knicks and LA Lakers along with the rest of the major market teams will always continue to shell out huge contracts and pack stadiums, teams in small markets (e.g. New Orleans) must cut back and dump salary in order to stay afloat during these trying times.
The millions of fans who pack stadiums and buy jerseys and pay $30 to park and $10 a beer inside the arena are the lifeblood of the business of professional sports. Us fans who watch the games, buy the merchandise, and buy tickets to the games are the ones who keep the NBA afloat, and pay for the multi million dollar contracts of the players. For the fans who have been hit hard by the recession, a failing mortgage, devestated portfolio, or job layoffs take precedent over everything else. This has been increasingly evident with the increasingly empty stadiums around the NBA this season, with screen shots of Memphis Grizzlies games looking very much like glorified high school contests.
While the competition remains strong, and the athletes more talented than ever, the NBA's product is not the issue. It is the arrogance of the owners in continuing to escalate the contracts of their star players all the while raising ticket prices and slowly squeezing out the average fan. Teams are continuously building luury boxes, which the vast majority of ordinary fans can not begin to afford, whilst raising concession prices as well as charging for parking and making it virtually impossible for a family of 4 to attend an NBA basketball game.
Yet fan devotion remains stronger than ever. In harsh times such as these, sports remain an escape from the real world where jobs are disappearing and mortgages are failing. Even as owners raise ticket prices and fans are forced to shell out major bucks to simply go to games and enjoy a few concession items, fans love their teams and continue to support their favorite players and teams. You see, the love by fans for their teams surpasses a simple relationship between a consumer and a business. Fans love their teams with all their beings, cheering and devoting their nights to watching "their teams".
Through thick and thin us fans root and cheer even as the very teams and players we worship continue to ignore the very people who make the existence of professional possible. One cannot help but feel exploited by hometown franchises who capitalize on fans' dedication and passion in order to fuel the multi million dollar player contracts and owner's profits. How many times do you see the million dollar athletes, whose contracts are essentially paid for by the fans, thank the people who pay his salary? An owner CUT ticket prices to accomodate his customers? Any other business with the same arrogant mentality as the NBA would be long gone and buried under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and yet we as fans continue to pay the exorbitant prices and fuel the business of professional sports.
So it's time for us fans to stand up for ourselves. Forget that you yourself might not be greatly affected by the recession. When even one human is hurting in the world we are all hurting, and as fans we must make a statement to "our teams". We will always love our teams and buy our favorite player's jersey, but maybe if the arenas remain half empty and merchandise stores remain idle perhaps the interests of fans will be heard. We love our teams, why can't they love us back?
TRADE DEADLINE DEALS SO FAR
OKC Thunder send F Joe Smith and F/C Chris Wilcox to NO Hornets for Tyson Chandler
Chicago Bulls send F Andre Nocioni and F Drew Gooden to Sacramento Kings for F/C Brad Miller and G John Salmons
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