Is THIS why the Suns brought in Shaq?

[Randy]

A little blurb from ESPN:

Brian Berger of Sports Business Radio: "It's no secret that the economy has declined sharply in recent months and Phoenix has been hit very hard because of the decline of the real estate market. So people are watching their disposable income as close as ever. But now the Suns will send out their season ticket renewal packets with one of the most recognizable faces in sports inviting customers to renew. Yes Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire are two of the most exciting stars in the NBA, but Shaq's bigger than life personna may be just the tonic the Suns need to hit their agressive 90% renewal mark. Two premium seats to watch the Suns play starting next year will cost you over $120K. The most important seats to sell will be the 504 floor-area seats the Suns have that are priced as high as $1500.00 per game. Prior to this season, the Suns had 125 floor area seats instead of 504 seats so by adding the extra seats, they've added $10M to the revenues. Shaq is a household name and he draws the people who will pay the big bucks for these seats. Just like he did in Los Angeles and just like he did in Miami."

[Lurker]

Maybe Suns fans are really blind enough to buy this line of BS.  I sure wouldn't want to pay those type of prices to see a player that only plays half the games and then only plays 20 minutes due to foul trouble.  Shaq will KILL the exciting style of play the Suns run now.  And they want their fans to pay MORE??

[JoMal]

To poster formerly known as Randee -

NBA attendance is down all over. Even the Kings have stopped selling out each home game.

With the outcome of Bush's economic policies leading to many in this area, at least, seeing their homes foreclosed on, the idea of spending a small fortune to see seven footers play a child's game comes into perspective quickly. Hiring a bigger seven footer to real in more borderline bankruptees makes about as much sense as anything else I have heard lately.

[Randy]

Well, I'm not sure that using the Kings as an example is really the best choice is it?  The Kings organization should have thought about this before they made some stupid signings/trades.  And then, when you look on paper, the Kings should be better than they are currently playing which causes everyone (okay, most everyone) to begin to question how badly the Kings chemistry is hurting the team when it steps onto the floor.  Nobody wants to play top dollar to see a team underachieve.  Kings fans WOULD pay money to see a team of players that will compete every night -- even if they lose -- but they don't want to see a bunch of players who can't get along and it just shows on the court. 

The Kings, IMO, have become the latest team to fall into the former Blazer example -- get top players no matter WHAT they act like.  That ALWAYS comes back to bite you in the end.  You CAN grow past this though -- look at what the Blazers are doing now.  Get rid of all your "attitude" players and get some players who want to compete every night.  It shouldn't be all that difficult if Petrie is the GM you have proclaimed him to be in the past.  I really think the Maloof's are trying to tick off Kings fans just so they can move them to Vegas.