Mar

17

Grizzlies Owner Heisley Pleads Patience With Squad

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main 

????????????????? Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley?

You cannot help but have at least a bit of sympathy for Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley.? The team is about a game from last year’s pace, yet Heisley is?thinking that like McGyver from television fame, he “knows what he’s doing”.? A method to his madness, if you will.? As if with any failing franchise, the team’s fan base is dwindling; however, the franchise is unveiling a plan in the hopes of increasing that fan base, due to lackluster results on the court the past 2 seasons.

As proof, the Grizzlies, since the trade of star player Pau Gasol last month, sport a 2-17 record; heading into Monday’s game against the Charlotte Bobcats, Memphis has lost 4 straight games and 19 of their last 21 - which includes 17 consecutive losses on the road.? Also factor in the fact that the Grizzlies haven’t beaten a team with a winning record in 3 months.? So what is the plan, Michael?? According to Heisley, as he explained to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “What we’re trying to do is build a team around our young players.? We got to a certain level with the team we had and didn’t get any further.? We’re rebuilding and if we’re going to do that we need to have draft choices and cap room.? A year ago people weren’t happy about the trade with (Shane) Battier for (Rudy) Gay.? What happened?? A year passed and Rudy got a lot better.? Now, we’ve got to be able to make the right move at the right time for the right player.? It remains to be seen how the fans will take this.? But we’re confident we’ll have a very exciting team next year.? Once you start rebuilding, you have to do it, you can’t go halfway.? You have to go all the way.”

One thing that may work in their favor is the team’s relative youth, as they have one of the NBA’s youngest rosters; Memphis is the only NBA team with seven players 25 years old?or younger logging at least 14 minutes per game.? This is part’s of the team’s marketing plan as the team is offering incentives for the fans.? One incentive is?to seek regular-season renewals for the 1008-09 season with what is called the “True Loyalty” campaign, which recognizes fans’ long-standing partnership with the team.

The incentives in this promotion allow for more access, additional perks and a choice of “extraordinary” gifts in the hopes of retaining at least 80% of their current season-ticket holders and hopefully increase their to at least their high-water mark of 11,000+ per game attendance.? Another incentive is that there will be no ticket price increases; in fact, some decreases are in the works, as 4,500 seats’ prices will actually decrease.? To attract prospective customers, the Grizzlies?will offer 6,000 Terrace Level season tickets for $10 per game for next season, which is in addition to the already-implemented 500 $5 season tickets that they already offer.

As you may have already figured out, the team isn’t necessarily looking to generate revenue, as opposed to getting more fans in the seats - and while they’re at it, win a few more games.? I think Heisley has the right idea, and hopefully the Grizzlies’ fans can exercise more restraint as the team looks to become more respectable.



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