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**BEEZ** · 11-19-2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

The Sixers are scrappy, but they're rebuilding. The combination has led to empty seats.

By Marc Narducci

Inquirer Staff Writer

This was not unexpected, but the figures no doubt are stunning. While the 76ers' youth and inconsistency have been exposed during a slow start, the bigger struggle has been to get people into the building.

For the first time since the 1995-96 season - the year before Allen Iverson came to town - the Sixers do not have star power to sell tickets.

And without a superstar on a team predicted to finish at or near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Sixers entered the season with little buzz.

They drew an opening-night crowd of 19,706 against New Jersey, near capacity at the 20,318-seat Wachovia Center.

After that, the attendance slide has been precipitous.

A Wednesday evening game on Nov. 7 against the Charlotte Bobcats drew 9,317 fans, the lowest attendance since the Wachovia Center opened in 1996.

That was followed by a Friday (Nov. 9) crowd of 10,886 against Toronto and last Sunday's 10,014 against New Orleans. On Friday, the team drew 11,483 for a 92-88 win over Portland.

Last season, the Sixers were 29th in the 30-team NBA in attendance, averaging 14,844 per game. It was their lowest figure since 1995-96, when they averaged 11,935.

Low attendance, if it lingers, could have an effect in the bigger picture of the Sixers, such as the team's value. Forbes Magazine, in its January report, estimated the Sixers' worth at $375 million, three times the price that Comcast paid for the team in 1996.

The team was for sale last year but was taken off the market.

"A one- or two-year lag in attendance won't dramatically impact the value of the franchise," said Kurt Badenhausen, associate editor of Forbes Magazine. "If the 76ers will average 14,000 people a game going forward, that will dramatically affect anybody."

The Sixers can only hope to get close to 14,000, a goal that seems as difficult as reaching the postseason.

Despite the disappointing beginning at the box office, coach Maurice Cheeks, the point guard on the team's 1983 championship team, remains upbeat.

"Philadelphia is the kind of town that likes to see its teams go out and work hard," Cheeks said. "Word will get out, and people will come see us play."

You can read the rest here:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/..._audience.html

Good article for the dwindling crowds

**Peja Vu** · 12-14-2007, 09:31 PM

From Sam Amick's blog. The Kings are going thru the same problems:

A sad sight

Quote:

PHILADELPHIA - There's something to be said for finding peace inside an NBA arena.

I've felt like the league needs to tone down its ear-blasting act for some time, and I'm convinced that I'll eventually lose a good amount of my hearing because of the incessant music and unhealthy decibel levels around the league. But peace is one thing. Solitude is another.

It's almost lonely inside this Wachovia Center, where the Sixers entered tonight's game ranked 29th in the league in attendance by averaging 12,224 per game. The unique element, though, is that this arena can hold 21,600 fans, creating a major cavernous effect considering the place seems about 30 percent full. The Kings, by comparison, entered play ranked 26th (13,503) in home attendance at Arco Arena (capacity 17,317). But in terms of atmosphere and excitement, it's not even close.

The silence is deafening. You can actually heard the sound of sneakers on the hardwood, even from my press row seat (where I have no one sitting on either side of me) that is a bit farther back than normal and in the corner as opposed to halfcourt. You can hear the individual comments from fans, too.

"You will not make that shot!" one guy just yelled to Brad Miller as he took a free throw early in the first quarter.

Just before the quarter ended with the Kings down 28-24, Mikki Moore screamed as he dunked and the folks up near the ceiling could probably hear it.

There are signs on both sides of the top row that must be at least 200 feet in length, both of them reading "Welcome to Comcast Country." That's just about right, since apparently everyone in Philly watches these games on TV rather than actually come.

UPDATE: I've heard of snoozer games, but are you kidding me? Someone is asleep on press row. I repeat (and I'm not exaggerating in the slightest), a member of the media is completely asleep. Arms crossed, head back, mouth so wide open Kyle Korver could probably bury a three in his throat from the floor! Priceless.

chairman5 · 12-15-2007, 12:58 PM

LOL i love it, i still dont get why fans (not die hard) would sit anywhere but the lower bowl and the lower bowl is kinda pricey, not worth watching the kings

id pay to see only the good teams

**Sliccat** · 12-15-2007, 04:31 PM

I just hope this doesn't make them do moves for the sake of being a 6-8th playoffs seed sooner, rather than build a contender for later.

**Dean the Master** · 12-20-2007, 02:53 PM

I think they should trade away big contracts and get some young guys in.

Living 20 minutes away from Philly, it's painful to hear about them right now.

**Sliccat** · 12-20-2007, 08:26 PM

I need to start watching more games. I really like how they're playing; they aren't very talented, but they've got heart.

captainobvious · 01-14-2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sliccat

I just hope this doesn't make them do moves for the sake of being a 6-8th playoffs seed sooner, rather than build a contender for later.

exactly.

Fortunately for us however(or unfortunately, however you want to look at it), only the Phillies take that kind of "business" approach to their bargaining tables.

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