What's In A Name?
First off, big props to Raymond as he gets the nod as Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February, finally getting some of the respect he deserves. I would normally blog a bit on how hard he plays, what a tough competitor he is and how he’s hit some big shots, but it seems Matt Devlin covers that in every blog, so all I’ll say is I am one happy Chief Marketing Officer having Raymond Felton on my team. Congrats, Raymond!
Now onto to the big BobcatsBasketball.com story of the week -- the Gerald Wallace nickname contest. Now I have mixed emotions about this contest. You see, by calling out all the things Gerald does on the court and potentially labeling him with a name that is synonymous to his game, all the other players in the league will be looking out for him.
Who would you be more ready to play against -- Earvin or Magic? Need I say more?
The contest is cool, but it comes with a risk. I would much rather the rest of the league wonder who it was that just blocked the ball, rebounded it, pushed it up the court and dunked it with authority. Instead of avoiding that scenario because they were looking out for some nicknamed star that they knew could hurt them.
But looser heads prevailed, and now almost 1,000 emails have come in with close to 500 suggested nicknames -- with the ideas still coming. And word has it that during his live chat tomorrow (Thursday at 2:00 p.m.) Gerald will be identifying his top five favorites and then turn it back to the fans for a vote. Sometime next week, the winner will be revealed and we will all be calling Gerald by some other name.
I’ve reviewed the list, and reviewed it, and reviewed it. Some of the nicknames were pretty good, and some just… well, you know, they were not that good. Some were funny, some didn’t make sense and some weren’t even spelled right.
Here’s a taste of what’s come in: 5-Cat (what does this mean?), Crash (an early fan favorite), Block Party (yeah, I get it), Climbtime (clever), Crashin’ Passion (trying to hard), G-Dub and G-Wall (most common of all the G-hypen nicknames, which there are a lot of), Gerald “off the Wall”ace (like it, but tough on a PA Announcer), Hamma from Bama (not sure what that means, but nice props for the alma mater), lots of Mr. nicknames like Mr. Energy and Mr. Quick, Stamp Daddy (what’s the stamp about), a ton of “The” nicknames with a few like The Regulator and The Iron Gladiator reminding me more of a wrestler’s name, Waldo Geraldo (now this took some brainstorming) and Wallasaurus Rex (say that 10 times fast).
As for me, I think I’ve made up my mind. After countless days of thinking, writing down, erasing, re-writing and even dreaming, I’ve had my epiphany.
To me, he’s just plain old Gerald.
At least that’s what I want everyone he plays against to think.
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Change Is A Good Thing
I just want to give you my thoughts as we roll out our new season ticket prices and amenity packages for the 2006-07 season. We have been working on this plan for months, pouring over research, fan feedback and in particular, gaining a better understanding of the Charlotte market. That third point -- getting to understand the Charlotte community better -- has been a big part of the decisions we have made, and the key to that has been the increased involvement of our local ownership group in the critical decision making process for our organization. It’s been impressive how Bobcats Majority Owner Bob Johnson has brought to the table his group of minority investors and empowered them to help drive the direction of the franchise.
In a nutshell, we are lowering season ticket prices (in over 70 percent of the seats in the arena) and providing more special amenities for Season Ticket Holders, so we can add more value to the price of a ticket. Prices will drop on average 38 percent in the upper level, and an average of 14 percent overall throughout the arena bowl.
I have personally been involved in countless meetings with our staff, senior management team and our ownership group over the past months that have concentrated on how we can draw more Season Ticket Holders in while still running a viable business (which allows us to pay for players and become a perennial playoff team). We can’t give the tickets away, but we have worked hard to find the point at which a lower ticket price can be sustained.
The NBA in Charlotte has always been a lower priced option than in other markets. That’s just the way it is. Even with a brand new arena and a brand new team, the Charlotte community demands great value. Our response -- we hear you Charlotte. That’s why we are making a change.
Let’s also keep in mind that it’s been a pretty good year for us. Our attendance is up. The team is fighting through a crazy stretch of injuries and is still ahead of last year’s pace. More people are seeing games on TV than last year. But we want more. We want more Season Ticket Holders in the fold. And if lower prices is what we need to do, with more benefits, than that’s what we are going to do. We have never been an organization that is too proud to identify what changes need to be made. We get it. If we need to change, we will -- and we have.
It takes a special group of people (from owners to staff) to step up and say, “You know what, we need to do something differently to get it right.” For that type of attitude, you need to check your ego at the door. It’s not about us, it’s about everyone else. It’s about the fans. And that’s what we have done here.
We need to make our games more accessible. If that means that our average ticket price needs to be the third lowest in the league (and that’s what it will be now), then that’s what we have to do. Charlotte is a unique place to live and work, and it’s a great place. With the help of our ownership group, featuring many prominent Charlotteans who have helped us understand what makes this community tick, we now look at what the market demands, not just what works in other NBA markets. This is Charlotte, not New York, not L.A., not Washington, D.C., not even San Antonio. What we know is that on top of building a winner (which we will -- it just takes a few years time), Charlotte demands value, great effort and a fun night out. And that is what we want to give our fans, both those who have hopped on our bandwagon already and those who will hopefully be hopping on in the days, weeks and months ahead.
A Long Road Home
I’m back again, and as usual, late with my latest Blog…again. Well, as the saying goes, better late than never.
This time, I have a decent excuse….it’s called nine home games in just under three weeks. It has sort of felt like the movie Groundhog Day. Wake up, go to work, host a game, go to bed late, wake up early the next day, go back to work preparing for the next day’s game, go home, wake up, go to work, play a game, go home late……you get the picture.
The homestand (we did squeeze one away game, but it still feels like a nine-game homestand) was the longest I have ever been associated with in the league. It seems like we lived a lifetime in these three weeks.
Let’s see, we had stars such as the Shaq/Dwyane Wade duo, LeBron, Kobe, Iverson and J. Kidd/Vince Carter (tomorrow night). We had “Get Well Soon Night.” We gave away 5,000 Raymond Felton bobble heads and 5,000 Bobcats duffle bags. We lost players to injury (what else is new) and had some players return (believe it or not).
We celebrated Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Month with courtside seat upgrades, on-court presentations, complimentary food and drinks, chalk talks and conference calls with team officials and one lucky season ticket holder won a trip for two to NBA All Star Weekend -- congratulations Jason Phillips.
And best of all, we completed our franchise’s first-ever three game winning streak.
We also spent the three weeks at home doing as much off the court as we have on the court. Our players have been getting out and about in the community, delivering get well cards to kids at Presbyterian’s Hemby Children’s Hospital, taking part in a basketball clinic with the Special Olympics, signing Valentine’s Day cards at Carolina Place Mall, playing Bingo with seniors at an assisted living home and having our injured players just walking around the arena saying hello to fans.
You might be wondering why we had such a long stretch of home games, followed by such a long stretch away from Charlotte (after tomorrow night’s game, we do not return to the arena for NBA hoops action until we play Miami on Monday, March 6).
Well, the reason is pretty simple (and it should not happen again). First, we have the All-Star Break. Then we have the circus coming into the arena for five days, followed by the CIAA Tournament for a week. Add it all up, and it equals one long West Coast trip.
The circus was booked before we knew we had the CIAA Tournament coming, so that’s how that happened. Next year, we will make sure to create some separation so we don’t create these long trips and ultra-long homestands. We are lucky to have a great arena that hosts a number of cool events, but it sometimes makes it tough to schedule the games (both Bobcats and the Charlotte Checkers minor league hockey team) exactly how we might want them.
And wait until 2008, when we have the CIAA Tournament, followed by the ACC Tournament, followed by the NCAA Charlotte Regional (Sweet 16). At least we have a week in between each tournament, so the Bobcats don’t have to make a month-long road trip.
Well, time to get back to work.
Blog ya later.
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Another Sellout
I might as well continue the tradition of announcing sellouts through the Blog Squad, so here it goes -- we are sold out for the Lakers game this Friday. The combination of Kobe Bryant and a Friday night is a great recipe for a sellout (as was Shaq and Miami last Friday night).
Tonight should be a fun game, too. It’s a big day for the Tar Heel faithful as Marvin Williams makes his first trip back to the Carolinas in the regular season. In fact, Marvin, Sean (May) and Raymond (Felton) will be meeting and greeting a few hundred Rams Club members prior to the game (that’s the UNC Tar Heel sports booster club). The Rams Club contingent bought a block of group tickets and will be rooting the for Bobcats over the Hawks once play starts -- at least we figure on that, what with two collegiate Carolinians on our roster compared to one for the Hawks.
In addition to the game, tonight is also the start of Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Month. From free stuff, to recognition in the arena, to unique access to our players and coaches, every game offers another chance to receive cool benefits (more than normal) for being a season ticket holder. It’s a very important month for us, and one that we take very seriously as our season ticket holders are some of our most loyal fans.
And remember, if you’re not coming tonight and you want to follow the game, you’ll have to do it on radio (WNMX 106.1 FM), because we’re not on TV tonight. We had to give Matt Devlin a day off because he is working way too hard (just kidding about Devlin, not the game).
It's A Sellout
I have to admit that as I sit here pondering my blog, I am excited to let you in a few upcoming team marketing nuggets. First, we are sold out for the Miami game tomorrow night. So if you’re trying to get in to see Shaq(uille O’Neal), Dwyane (Wade) and the crew, either find a friend with a ticket or buy one for the Heat’s next trip in at 7:30 p.m. on March 6.
You can come on Monday to see LeBron and the Cavs in the building for the first of two trips this season (second game is set for April 2). If you make it Monday, you might even see our most talented (musically) member of our Bobcats ownership group in the house, as word has it Nelly will be sitting courtside for the game.
Then on Wednesday, we address what all others have been saying -- we need to GET WELL SOON. That’s why our February 1 game vs. the Hawks will be Presbyterian Hospital’s Get Well Soon Game.
All of our injured players will be in the concourses before the game signing autographs and thanking fans for their support. Any fan that comes to the box office with a blank Get Well card will receive one free ticket with every ticket purchased (aka, 2-for-1). Our injured players will then sign those cards and deliver them to the Presbyterian Hemby Children’s Hospital and brighten up the days of some kids through their trying medical times.
Finally, we have Kobe and the Lakers in Charlotte a week from tonight. That game is close to a sell out, so if you are thinking of coming, you better get your tickets soon.
It’s going to be a fun week. We’ll see you there.
I'll Take Third
Matt Rochinski, editor extraordinaire for BobcatsBasketball.com, tells me I rank No. 3 in visits for the Bobcats Blog Squad. I feel pretty good about that. Sure, John-Blair Bickerstaff and Matt Carroll score higher, and they should, as anything on the court has got to be more interesting than what I have to say about what’s happening off the court. Although, Rochinski tells me it also helps that they’re posting more blogs (a jab at my lack of promptness in writing, I’m sure).
The ranking actually makes me very happy, simply because I topped Matt Devlin, which is hard to do for any mortal man. Good hair, good looks, good voice, great job -- Matt Devlin is the man. So to be more popular in the cyber world than Devlin is big. And this is not a knock intended at fellow web blogger Brad Thomas, who also ranks below the three hole. Brad, for you I’m sure it’s just a matter of time (and better self promotion).
Until next time…...
Panthers Deserve Congrats
I am a bit conflicted today.
Though I now live in Charlotte, I am still a New York Giants season ticket holder (and have been my entire life). I don't make it back up to my old hometown for games much, but I did manage to make the trip this past weekend for the playoff game at Giants Stadium.
It was the perfect storm. My hometown team taking on my new hometown. Well, my team lost -- big time.
What made the Panthers win more personal was the fact that I have gotten to know some of the players and members of the organization over the past few years in Charlotte. They have been big supporters of our team, so I have started to pull for them (except this past Sunday, of course).
In fact, I have had a little verbal jousting going on this season with Steve Smith – All-Pro wide receiver -- over who is better, him or Plaxico Burress -- not All-Pro wide receiver -- of the Giants. Well Steve, you win.
Not that he hasn't let me know it.
When I checked my cell phone for messages after I landed back in Charlotte with my son Jack, who I have passed my Giants fan genes on too, there was a message from Steve reminding me how the game ended up (as if I needed a reminder). I think the nickname he used for me was "Goose Egg," as in shut out.
Nice jab. But it's all in fun. What could I do but shake my head in agreement?
When we finally talked today, we made plans for him to attend our game against the Rockets tomorrow night so he could enjoy a night watching others play. Now I can tell him in person that he is the better receiver and the Panthers are the better team.
But that's okay. That's what sports is all about. Gotta support your team. Congratulations Steve.
Progression On And Off The Court
So here we are with 10 wins before the New Year. We didn’t get the 10th until February last season -- now that’s progress.
And so goes the evolution of a new NBA franchise. But, as we evolve on the court competitively, we also need to evolve visually. Our play is progressing and so our “look” must as well. I’m not talking about the new NBA dress code guidelines -- I’m talking alternate road uniform. Yes, we are currently in development with the NBA and Reebok on designs for an alternate road uniform that we will (hopefully) debut sometime next season.
We have been at work on the project for just about a year now. It all started with an official notification to the league that we would like to introduce an alternate road uniform in our third season (06-07). We were required to make the request midway through our first season (04-05). In fact, the league has a strict set of guidelines regarding uniform development. As with our alternate road uniform development process, teams need to request permission for a change two seasons ahead of when the uniform change would take place. Also, teams with new uniforms need to remain unchanged for two full seasons before a road alternate (or retro) uniform can be introduced. And as far as a retro or throwback uniform goes, we are taking it one change at a time (but, it’s pretty safe to assume that if we someday go the throwback route, it would be back to the Carolina Cougars days, and probably not the Hornets).
Once the league approved our request to introduce the alternate road uniform in the 06-07 season, the design period started. That’s when I got together with Christopher Arena, the NBA’s lead executive when it comes to uniforms. I have known Chris for a number of years and have always thought he has one of the coolest jobs in sports. He’s the guy you look to when you want advice on what the trends are, what fabric is the most comfortable, what colors are hot, what lettering reads best on TV and so on. And I guarantee you this -- there is no one person in the world of basketball that has a cooler jersey collection than Chris.
The design process started with us providing direction to Reebok and the NBA on the look and feel we wanted. We talked about not being too crazy with the design, but we did want something that catches the eye. We gave some basic direction on color and fabric, which are both different from what we use now in our orange and white home and road uniforms. And if I told you anymore about the design, I might get into trouble.
So, there you have it. Progress on the court -- both competitively and stylishly. The only difference is you can see the competitive progress on the court now, but you will have to wait until next season to see the new threads.
Sorry, but we need to maintain some drama here.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year. See you in 06!
Good To Be Back
Well, it's official now -- I am the Bobcats Blog Squad member who can’t hit a deadline. What’s it been now, three weeks since my last missive? I’m just lucky Matt Rochinski (who manages the Blog Squad and writes a ton of what you read online) will forgive me. Kudos to the two other Matt's (Devlin and Carroll), JB and Brad for being a better blogger than I. Plus, I imagine the world can survive waiting to hear the latest ramblings from the marketing guy at the Bobcats. With all that said, and in typical marketing guy fashion, I’m going ramble anyway.
When last we blogged, I was heading out West to join up with the team for a few games. Though the games did not go as we had hoped in the win-lost column, the trip was a success in terms of visiting with other teams and seeing how they run their business and arena operations. In the NBA, all the teams eagerly share information on the business side to help each other find the best ways to run their businesses and provide a great fan experience. It's funny how that is the complete opposite of how the basketball side works. On the court, it's every team for themselves. Off the court, we share everything with each other and root for each other’s success.
Back home we have been working hard on getting people out to see the games (and watch the games on TV). We have Holiday Six Packs, Family Fun Packs, group sales discounts, Youth Basketball Network nights, student offers, special two-for-one games and a load of promotional item giveaway nights to entice fans to come to a game. We are also going to introduce weekend party night after the games in our Rock the Rooftop area in the Uptown Concourse, so the building will keep rocking after the buzzer sounds and fans can get even more for their money.
On the TV side, now that 50 of our games are on basic cable, we are pushing hard for people to watch the games. Last year with our new regional sports network, C-SET, on digital cable, fans had trouble finding us on TV. This season, we were not going to let that happen. We have two great partners in Time Warner Cable (News 14 Carolina in Charlotte and Raleigh, channel 78 in Greensboro and channel 148 in South Carolina) and over-the-air network WJZY UPN46, as well as a number of outer market over-the-air partners. So, we created an aggressive tune-in ad campaign to make sure that people know how and where to watch us.
We can’t take anything for granted as a new team. The NBA in Charlotte is a re-do, and we need to be as aggressive off the court and we are on it.
For season ticket holders, we are always trying to provide more. We are now running a program where seat holders can move up to try a higher priced seat for free. For instance, a non-club season ticket holder will get a chance to sit in the club section for a game with no obligation. If they like it, they might want to upgrade for next year. We want to give everyone a chance to see what all the new amenities we have are all about. We have also introduced wine tastings and other special events for Club Seat, Ledge, Royal Box, Terrace Table and Uptown Suite ticket holders, as well as complementary food and beverages at halftime and post game in our BackCourt Club for all Inner Circle and Founders Suite Ticket holders. It’s all about trying to add more value to a Bobcats ticket.
Ultimately, it comes back to what’s happening on the court, and luckily we have just won three of four. As much as we work to provide good value to ticket buyers, its how our team plays (and the hope we create for the future) that ultimately will make fans want to invest their money and their time in us. It’s a process that never stops.
Well, I have to get back to work. We have a big game vs. the Clips, and as I look out my office window at the practice court and see the team working hard preparing for a tough team with the most underrated All-Star in the league (Elton Brand), I need to work equally as hard to make sure we have a load of fans in the stands to cheer us on.
I’ll be back blogging soon -- I promise.
Catching Up After The Holiday
Well, I missed my first deadline… by about a week. Sorry I’m late with my blog. Must have been that holiday weekend laziness triggered by excessive tryptophan intake (otherwise known as too much Turkey on Thanksgiving Day).
Speaking of the recent holiday, what a great Thanksgiving weekend we just had at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Three big wins (two by the Bobcats and one by the Charlotte Checkers, the minor league hockey team that plays in the ECHL and also calls the new arena home), three big crowds and lots of happy faces. But what stood out most about those happy faces were how many were worn by kids.
When working in professional sports, it is very easy to get caught up in the tension of winning and losing. After all, that’s ultimately what matters most. Everything we do is centered on the game. Providing our players the best chance to win is critical. Whatever we do on and off the court for our fans, we are always thinking about how that affects the game, too. We cringe when we lose and breathe easier when we win. Our moods are better in the hallways on the mornings after a victory, and the office is much more subdued after a loss. But to a youngster holding a Sharpie (the brand name marker made famous by the now infamous T.O.), a win or a loss comes in a distant second to the thrill of having a player stop and sign the jersey on their back while offering a warm smile and an encouraging word. I saw that happen over and over again at our two games this past weekend, as it seemed every family in Charlotte was in attendance during the school break.
I saw kids with wristbands and headbands, some customized with players personalized ID (such as G. Wallace #3 embroidered on), handed to them by players during and after the game. Even Rufus Lynx (our mascot) was a hit with the kids, signing autographs and trading high fives.
The bottom line on all this is that we can connect on so many levels with so many people, from diehard fans whose mood swings up and down with every shot, to guests who attend games to enjoy an entertaining experience, to those many kids who come to a game and walk away with memories that last a lifetime.
On another note, we just started our West Coast road trip and I’m heading out to meet up with the team in Seattle. Getting on the road with the team is important. It’s a good chance to spend some focused time with the players and coaches and team broadcasters. When we are home, we all are so busy that we never really get a chance to spend time developing relationships. It’s just one issue after another.
Also, we are meeting up with representatives from the NBA to review Seattle’s game presentation. Each season, every team conducts a peer review of certain team’s game presentation. Seattle is known for putting on a great show, so this is a chance for us to pick up some new ideas.
Well, seeing as I am a week late on this latest blog, I might just come back in a few days with a quick update from the road.
Catch you then.
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Tipping Off The Season Of Giving
I can't believe it, but Thanksgiving (and the start of the holiday season) is less than a week away. We have had so much going on in the past few months, I can’t believe how fast the holiday season has crept up on me. And even though we will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner at the Weiller house this year (for the first time), it was not those plans that made me take notice and got me into the holiday spirit. It was the prep work we have been doing to get ready for our third annual Street Turkeys event (a food drive for the hungry) we run along with local sports radio personality Mark Packer, that has energized me.
I truly believe Street Turkeys is one of the coolest things we do at the Bobcats. It’s unbelievable how many people jump on board to lend a hand. In our first two years, we collected thousands of turkeys and thousands of dollars. This will be the first year that we will host the event at our home, Charlotte Bobcats Arena (that's because we finally have one), and it should be bigger than ever.
Everything starts at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 23 and runs right up until the start of our game that night against the Knicks. Anyone who drops off a turkey or a minimum cash donation of $10 will get a 2-for-1 ticket voucher for the game that night, along with an official Street Turkeys T-shirt (which are very cool) while supplies last - yes, I know I sound like a TV ad.
The Primetime with the Packman show will broadcast live from 3:00-7:00 p.m., and a host of Bobcats players, team execs, VIPs and so on will be dropping by. We’ve even closed off a lane of Trade Street all day to handle the flow. This is big! It will be a huge effort outside and a packed house inside.
It seems like all of Charlotte comes out to lend a hand. It's the classic "community spirit at work" story. And it's timed well. Street Turkeys tips off the holidays for us all.
You know the feeling - everyone getting ready for a four-day weekend with the family (well sort of - we have a game on Saturday night) along with football (basketball too, but what's Thanksgiving without football?), parades and of course that giving spirit which seems to engulf us all around this time.
People just seem nicer. And what's best about the holidays is that people seem to figure out how they can do things, as opposed to how they can't. Street Turkeys is all of that and more.
We have so many great volunteers and so many great partners. The folks at Sports Radio WFNZ are so committed to making this a success and feeding as many people as we can. Mark Packer pumps his listeners into such a frenzy that it's a miracle we have refrigerated trucks big enough to hold all the turkeys we collect. Our over the air TV partner, WJZY UPN46, has jumped on board this year to help us promote the event, as well. Here at the Bobcats, it seems everyone is working hard on the effort, from team employees to arena staff. It’s not your normal work event feeling. It's more like a cause.
The Bobcats will then continue to spread holiday cheer with a dinner for underprivileged kids that we call Hoops for Hope. Most of our Bobcats players will be on hand at Maggiano's in South Park on Monday for a very cool and special dinner.
Again, there’s something about holiday spirit that seems to take over and make everyone believe that they can make a difference. Our players love being a part of this, and the kids always seem so happy. I show up to watch (even thought there’s no need for me to do anything as our crack community relations staff handles it all). It's just amazing to see kids faces light up when a player serves them dinner, sits down to talk and reads a book with them. You sort of forget about winning and losing and begin to realize how much just being a good, caring person can make an impact on people.
We will also hold a holiday party in December for kids of season ticket holders, which includes our players and our broadcast team. Once again, to see the smiles light up on kids’ faces is worth all the effort that goes into this event. We are having the guests all come with a gift to donate to a child in need so we can keep the spirit of the holidays front and center.
All of this is work of course, but it's not the kind of work we have been used to over the past few months. It's work that makes you feel good (not that I don't normally feel good -- well maybe sometimes) because it has a different effect than normal. When the goals are selling tickets, winning games and making sure fans are happy with their experience, you sort of lose sight of the big picture.
Street Turkeys and our other holiday season efforts (we call it the Bobcats Season of Giving, as everything must have some type of marketing slogan or I wouldn't have a job) reminds us all that we are all part of a bigger world; a world that needs us to remember that we’re all on this planet together, and no matter how busy we get at work, we can step outside and lend a hand to make someone else's day great, too.
So please enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday and try and catch the spirit next Wednesday at the arena with a turkey donation and a trip to the game. And if you can't make it to Street Turkeys, just keep in mind that your spirit of giving can help anyone at any time. As they say, 'tis the season to think about others.
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First Week Even Better Than Expected
The obvious thing to blog about now would be our opening week. So please allow me to indulge.
It's been a whirlwind week, which all started with an unbelievable opener against Boston – an OT win, a sold-out building and the town buzzing. Needless to say, it has been an incredible experience, and I'm thrilled for all the people who worked so hard to put the arena together - on budget and earlier than promised, no less.
I truly believe the arena will fulfill (in fact, it already has begun to) its promise as a beacon of cultural and economic significance for Charlotte. From financing (please understand, it's not as easy as saying it's Charlotte taxpayer financed) to traffic (reports are there really haven't been any problems and the parking is fine) to the NBA (you won't find a harder working, more likeable bunch of guys than these Bobcats), I sense the tide is shifting.
Over the past week, the arena and Bobcats games have been the place to be. It seems everyone in Charlotte is coming to the games. I've run into so many people at the arena - fathers and sons I know from my neighborhood youth sports association in South Charlotte, neighbors, community leaders, popular members of the business community and a host of area celebrities. It's almost been a who's who of Charlotte at the arena this week.
Bobcats tickets are hot. People are calling me all day long looking to get a ticket for the next game. They are talking to me about how much they like the incredible new scoreboard, the friendly service, the cool clubs and lounges and particularly the games.
Our team has been playing its heart out, and you can tell by the late game chants of "Defense, Defense" that the fans have appreciated the fact it has taken these games down to the wire (two OT games out of three home games so far). We are selling a lot of tickets, but it's more than that. Our TV ratings (on WJZY UPN 46 Cable 8 and News 14 Carolina) are higher than last season by a wide margin. People are starting to jump on the bandwagon. People are talking about the team and the arena all over town.
And it's not just basketball. People are still talking about the sold out Rolling Stones concert that opened the building a few weeks ago, and the upcoming Elton John concert this Saturday. In fact, I've had a number of people call me this week (in the middle of all these Bobcats games) to get tickets to Disney on Ice at the end of the month, unable to believe that tickets to some sessions are already becoming hard to get. U2 is playing in December and is sold out, and I get at least a few calls everyday from people trying to see if they can get some tickets to see Bono and the boys (for those of you who haven't called me, the answer is - we don't have any left).
In the coming weeks and months, the building will play host to so many more shows. Dolly Parton, Clay Aiken, Bob Jovi, Martina McBride, Bill Gaither, Manheim Steamroller, Arenacross, Monster Jam, Stars on Ice, the Harlem Globetrotters, Ringling Bothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus and the Charlotte Jumper Classic horse show will all make stops in Uptown Charlotte (or should I call it Center City, though I would really just like to call it downtown, but I'll leave that topic for another blog). Add the Checkers to the mix (and the WNBA's Charlotte Sting this summer) and the bottom line is that we are rolling in the new arena.
Feel free to check out our arena website (CharlotteBobcatsArena.com) to learn more about all these events (that shameless plug was brought to you by Brandon Lucas, our arena marketing director).
As for me, I have my hands in all of this. From the Bobcats to the Sting to the arena, from ticket sales to celebrities at the games, from the stars on the court to the stars on ice, I've been all over the place. Not to mention all the planning that has gone into moving our offices into the new arena (which we have not yet done, but will be soon).
Last blog, I mentioned a few of the people who have worked so hard to bring us to this point and how hard they were working. As is always the case, I missed someone. The bad thing was it was my assistant Sara Trexler. Sara has worked as hard as anyone over this past month, remaining calm when I was not and pulling together many of the special projects we have had to handle over the past month. She's done such a good job and taken care of so many details, I can't thank her enough.
Well, it's time to get back to work. The Mavericks are in town tonight, Elton John performs tomorrow, and it might be a much-needed day off on Sunday to watch my beloved New York Giants try and make it 7-2 against the Vikings (though I'm also pulling for the Panthers to beat the Jets).
See you next blog.
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Pressure - What Pressure?
Well, we are officially less than 48 hours away from Bobcats opening night in the new arena and it seems we are all running full steam ahead. In fact, it feels like we are sprinting full speed ahead, with a little help from a lot of coffee. With so much going on, I figured I would use the blog to talk about all the behind-the-scenes pieces that will go into making our opening day a great success (I hope). The key is to make sure no one outside of the organization ever sees you sweat. It might get a little crazy on the inside, but to our fans, players, business partners and league executives, it’s all good.
First there’s the media coverage. Scott Leightman, our VP of PR is on the road with the team but his staff is hard at work (not that he isn’t, though a good night’s sleep in the five-star hotel our team is staying in would not be a bad thing right now). From putting together over a hundred bags filed with every team’s media guides for all the press to get on opening night, to preparing credentials, game notes, parking plans and everything else, there’s a lot of pressure to make our first ever home game run as though we’ve been here for years. Also, I have been doing some interviews leading up to the game on tickets sales. Everyone wants to know if we are sold out. And the answer is - a few single tickets still are available, but we will be sold out before game time, for sure.
Then there is Bo Hussey, who runs our website, our creative services group and our publications department. He got about two hours of sleep last night as he is cramming to get our first game program to the printer in time to have it printed for the game on Saturday.
John Guagliano is another person who is sleeping very little. John runs our broadcasting and game entertainment areas. Saturday is our first home game, so he is hard at working getting our studio prepped for new half-time host Gary Williams, who will be interviewing our owner Bob Johnson at the mid-way point of the game. John is also working hard at playing traffic cop in our loading dock, as this will be the first time we have broadcast trucks from both teams parked underneath the building. It might not sound like much, but space in the loading dock is gold. Only players and coaches park back there.
John is also making sure our entire game is entertaining from the moment you walk up to the arena to the moment you leave. From the national anthem, to the halftime show, to live bands in our plaza outside providing a party atmosphere both before and after the game, John and his staff make the building fun. His crew also have an ice carving team (seriously) performing on the outdoor plaza, and he has arranged for our players to be dropped off at the front entrance around 5:00 p.m. to walk into the building for the first time like our fans will just an hour later when doors open to the public at 6:00 p.m. We are using a blue carpet for the player to walk on. We wanted orange, but John couldn’t find enough orange carpet to run from the street to the entrance. Maybe it’s all in Clemson, SC.
Hosts of other people are working almost 24-hour shifts to make Saturday night perfect. Marlene Hendricks is getting her guest services group ready to smile and help anyone who enters the building (we call her crew the WOW people, because they make people say wow, and also because they wear shirts that have a WOW logo). Donna Julian runs the arena operations, and she is making sure every little detail is set both where fans can see them and where fans can not (like making sure the player locker rooms are in tip-top shape). Overseeing it all on the arena side is Charlotte Bobcats Arena COO Barry Silberman, the calmest man I have ever met. I’m still waiting for Barry to raise his voice, just once.
As for me, I’m all over the map. In the past 24 hours I have worked with Steve Swetoha, our SVP of Business Operations, on every conceivable ticketing issue, including selling a pair of courtside seats to a new fan who fell in love with the building and wanted to get in before opening day. The buyer was lucky; we had been sold out of courtside seats, but we had a pair that opened up and now he is about 10 feet from the Bobcats bench. And speaking of courtside seats, I have been talking with a number of national celebrities who are in town and plan to be our guests at the game. So check out who is sitting courtside on Saturday, it will be a pretty cool lineup. I can’t tell you who, but we have stars from the worlds of music, sports and film who will be in attendance - along with about 19,000 other important people.
I’m also busy preparing for NBA Commissioner David Stern’s visit for the game on Saturday. He’ll tour the arena for the first time, visit the teams, spend time with fans and maybe even see a little of the game. We also have a luncheon tomorrow for the wives and families of our players. Ed Tapscott, our team president, and LaRita Barber, our VP of Community Relations and Player Programs, will spend time with the families and show them our new family room (where they can hang out before, during and after the games while waiting for their Dads, husbands, sons, fiancées), and give them a tour of the arena. We try and treat our players and coaches families like family. Because if they are happy, usually the guys are happy too.
Speaking of family, I think I’ve seen mine a total of an hour over the last week. And it won’t get any better this weekend. My wife and daughter head to Raleigh for a soccer tournament, while my son is spending the weekend with his aunt and cousins because I won’t be home to hang with him. At least my son still has a sense of humor. This morning while I was a little down after last night’s opening game loss in Chicago, my son hugged me and said, “Dad, I have good news for you.” I asked him what it was, and he said, “I’ve just saved a lot of money on my car insurance with GEICO.” After a good laugh, I realized that though we consume ourselves so much with work, what really matters more than anything else is family. That and the fact that maybe my 8-year-old is watching a bit too much TV.
So, there you have it - so much to do to get ready for a new season. Add a new arena into the mix and it gets even busier. Oh well, it’s got to slow down a bit after Saturday, right? Maybe not. Sunday is the arena’s opening day for the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers minor league hockey (we also run the arena, so all events we hold here, Bobcats or not, we have some responsibility for), we have Bobcats games on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of next week and next Saturday night Elton John is playing a concert in the arena.
And for some crazy reason, I love this job. Go figure.
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Out With The Old, In With The New
So what better way to start something new, than by finishing something old? That's what's on my mind right now.
We just ended our preseason with a nice win over Indiana. Sean May played in his first NBA game, Kareem Rush hit a lot of shots, and we pulled it out at the end. That makes for a good night.
But it was also a weird night. It was the final basketball game for the Charlotte Coliseum. What's strange is that the game meant more to other people than it did to us.
It's true our franchise started at the Coliseum, but we never really settled in. It was as if we were a long-term visitor, kind of like we had relocated and were staying in an extended-stay property.
I respect the fans and the players who called the Coliseum home and take with them some great memories. I even think it's cool that people saw some memorable non-basketball events, from Frank Sinatra to U2 to boxing with Tommy "Hit Man" Hearns. But for me, I'm glad to be out of there.
I'll still see many of the people who worked at the Coliseum Uptown at the new arena, but I won't miss seeing that malfunctioning scoreboard, listening to the poor sound system or scanning the endless sea of teal seats behind those space-eating, double-wide walkways running behind the courtside seats.
It was too bad Muggsy (Bogues, our Sting Head Coach) couldn't be there tonight, or Dell (Curry, our Director of Player Programs) for that matter. They both had prior commitments. Maybe that's best though, as they had so many great nights at the Hive (I never called it that, but it sounds good) that maybe this one last night would have dimmed their memories a bit.
The game was not that heavily attended, but we actually had more people than I thought would come. Lots of TV crews showed up, too. You know the drill - saying good-bye to the old building and seeing what people have to say.
Even Matt Devlin, our TV play-by-play man, was laying low and sporting a Bill Cosby-like sweater instead of his usual tailor-made suit with handkerchief and perfectly matching socks. A black-tie gala it was not (that's the Bobcats Jump Ball, this Saturday at the new arena, call 704-424-4125 - shameless plug).
It's all about the new arena now, which is as incredible as the Coliseum is dull.
I'm trying to think what I'll miss from the Coliseum, but it’s tough because I only spent one season there.
I’ll remember our first win over Orlando on the Saturday night after our opener, where Jason Hart gave our owner, Bob Johnson, the game ball at courtside after the buzzer. Bob congratulated everyone in the locker room and had all the players and coaches sign the ball. We were all feeling good. And the Miami game was cool, too. We sold out the place and won the game.
But what I will probably miss the most is Dave and Fran's BBQ stand. They are coming to the new arena, selling sausage and brats instead of BBQ (with special sauce and sauerkraut, so Dave says), so I guess a new tradition starts. I stopped by tonight for one final offering. It was the second quarter and I was starving.
That's about as deep as I go on the Bobcats memories, other than remembering a lot of hard work. I do remember coming to the Coliseum in 1994 for the NCAA Final Four. I was with Madison Square Garden college basketball at the time. And come to think of it, of all that must have been going through my mind when I first visited Charlotte over 11 years ago, I'm sure I never thought that I would one day be the guy here at that same arena when the building closed down.
See you next blog with more insightful commentary, bad jokes, prolific prose and of course, shameless plugs - what else would you expect from a marketing guy?
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