Random Thought/Idea...

[TyFreak Evans]

So I was thinking about something, and would like to throw it out there for Kingsfans.com members to discuss. Can an NBA team be successful under the ownership of, yes I am going to say it, their fans? Think about it for a second.....Take for example the Boston Celtics, who have a very big fanbase across the country, and even across the globe, if their fans own the team, they could have it set up to where each fan can put down a certain amount of money towards the purchase price of the team, and all decisions related to the team (i.e. trades, free agent signings, arenas, etc.) can be made by the fan base. Now, for this to be successful, of course you can't have every member of the fan base have an input, but rather just assign a group of 10 or so individuals who represent the fan base, and have them discuss and vote on the issues...

I am not throwing this idea for the Kings, but rather in general, to see what everyone thinks? I think if done right and thoroughly planned out, this could definitely be successful in the NBA.

Your thoughts?

 

[bajaden]

Everyone always wants to use the Green Bay Packers as an example of a team, that is indirectly owned by the fans, via the city. I think if you had a similar, city owned franchise, it might work, but its just not realistic. It would be hard for any city to justify to the voters the aquistion of a professional team, when you have people lobbying for more police protection, new library's and better schools with more teachers. What Green Bay did was from another time and a completely different world that no longer exists.

As for actually having the fans run a team? Well just look at the arguments you get on this fourm. Having been a member of various clubs in my life, I found most of the time at club meetings was spent arguing over ridiculous non-important items. Just getting the investors to agree on who the ten people (way too many) are, would probably take years.

A better way for fan involvement from a financial point of view, would be to sell stocks in the team. But thats a whole different discussion.

 

[NoBonus]

I think this COULD work if city owned like Green Bay... but not in Sacramento... maybe in a bigger city...

 

[VF21]

...Can an NBA team be successful under the ownership of, yes I am going to say it, their fans?

No.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I'm pretty sure NBA by-laws don't allow a public-ownership model, so the question is relatively moot.

I have had fantasies about the Kings implementing an internet-based "Fan Coaching" system, though. Voting to determine who starts, when the players are subbed in and out (based on the course of the game), selecting plays from a limited playbook...we couldn't do worse than we've had since Adelman left, can we?

 

[CruzDude]

Democracy is great in life and politics but can't work in pro sports for one basic reason: consistency. In any sport it is critical to have consistency from game to game. With multiple inputs by emotional fans wanting changes every couple of games the players would be spinning like tops trying to figure out what is wanted of them. Even with fan ownership like the Packers they have zero input on how or why games are played a certain way.

Until the last two years and the arena debacle the Maloofs stayed out of the day to day operations and let Petrie and Coach run things. Sure Petrie has his hands tied behind his back now due to Maloof financial issues but basketball is still in the hands of the basketball folks and I doubt that Gavin or Joe have direct personnel input. Just my opinion from afar.