Playing with fire
An NBA lockout could leave fans out in the cold
Posted: Wednesday June 24, 1998 04:19 PM
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A long lockout could put a bad taste in the mouth of NBA fans (Brian Bahr/Allsport) |
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Phil Lester has been going to Phoenix Suns games for
practically his entire life. He's been a season-ticket holder for more than
a decade.
When the club moved from its old digs at Veterans Memorial Coliseum into
plush America West Arena before the 1992-93 season, Lester made the drive
dowtown, too.
So, if the NBA lockout creeps into next season and games end up being
postponed or canceled, Lester -- and thousands of season-ticket holders
like him across the nation -- will have a good chunk of his winter suddenly
free.
And that's not necessarily good.
"I guess I stay home," said Lester, a credit manager for a satellite
communications manufacturing firm. "There's no other sports on, so what am
I going to do? I guess it'll be good spending the time with my family."
Lester, of suburban Gilbert, won't be the only loser if the NBA lockout
chips away at the regular season. He figures he can easily spend between
$50-$100 on a night when the Suns are in town, counting dinner before the
game, then some snacks and a couple of adult beverages during it. And that
doesn't include the money spent for tickets.
With no NBA, though, that money will go unspent.
"If it's the preseason, or a couple games in the beginning of the season,
it's not that big of a deal. I think everyone forgives and forgets," Lester
said. "But if it gets far into the season, it becomes a problem. Then
people are not willing to forgive so easily."
The Suns average more than 19,000 fans a game at America West, and the
arena has become part of a downtown renaissance that has been fueled by the
new Bank One Ballpark, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks have become a huge hit with fans. But Lester warns that
the problems baseball had in wooing back its fans after the 1995 strike
could strike basketball if the NBA lockout lasts into the season.
"I used to watch baseball a lot, but I hardly ever watch it now," he said.
"I just don't have the interest, even with the [expansion Arizona]
Diamondbacks. It seems like the players and owners just don't care about
the fans. Everybody's so greedy." -- John Donovan
The NBA Labor Talks
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