Not sure which side you're on, as both of them were being kind of snarky. But just because Sterling makes a profit in LA with bad teams, I don't think that means the fans should expect that just because we play in a small market we deserve a bad team or anything so the owners can make a profit. IIRC I read something from Forbes that in 06 the Kings were the 9th highest grossing team in the NBA at like 109 million dollars. I know Rookie's facts or questions or whatever regarding DOnald Sterling may be wrong, but his point about Sac remains valid IMO. A team can turn a profit by puting a decent team on the court, and just by fielding a playoff team they were the 9th highest grossing team in the NBA. I'm not saying that a new arena isn't needed because a team can turn a profit, because it definitely is and always has been. And I think while some of the fault is on the city(primarily Heather Fargo/Steve Cohn etc.) some of the blame lies at the Maloofs feet too. For example, they are taking a mediocre deal in Anaheim and making all sorts of concessions, and if they were willing to make that many concessions in 2006 or even just a few concessions we might have an arena by now and Q&R might have passed. The city hasn't really had a chance to get an arena done since then, because Stern was pushing that Cal Expo fan that unfortunately we all know now was doomed to fail.
But lets look at your arguement about making a profit by putting a good product on the floor. To put that good product on the floor, eventually your payroll is going to go up, and with that rise, your profit margin is going to go down. At some point, the amount of money you can bring in through ticket sales, and the amount of money you can spend on payroll are going to neutralize one another. The less attractive the venue, with less seating and corporate boxes, the sooner that happens.
Its all about competition, and right now the Maloofs are operating at a disadvantage compared to the Lakers, and yes, the Clippers. The amount of money they make off TV revenues pales by comparison to the Lakers. So essentially your asking the Maloofs to continue with things the way they are in hope, that this time, the city will actually come up with something you can grab hold of. I hope and pray that they do. But why should they. Please tell me just exactly what they owe you? Tell me what they owe Rookie? They're not running a charity organization, they're running a business, and when your running a business you do what you need to do to survive.
For 12 years, and 10 years in particular, the city did nothing. And as someone once said. The problem with doing nothing, is that you don't know when your done. As a result, someone else usually makes that decision for you. And the Maloof's did just that. I'm not happy about it, but it is what it is, and its always easier, and convienent, to point the finger of blame at someone else. I'd be curious to know how many games some of these people that are bitching have gone to over the years. And no! I'm not saying it makes you less of a fan if you haven't gone to many games. But I'am saying that the Maloofs don't make much money from people sitting at home watching the games on TV.
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