Just another Minot Monday..

[panchess]

..why do the SkyRockets get such bad dates? Is it part of a cheaper lease deal that Apex did or something like that? Very few Saturday dates, and a lot of Monday and Tuesday. It's amazing the team has done as well as it has with its date selection.

I don't get the league wanting Yakama to play on Monday when the Minot series can't possibly be over before Tuesday, and then only if there is a sweep.

[DakotaWizardsFan]

I just saw that the games were on Monday and Tuesday and it made me mad. I was hoping that if a game or two was on the weekend, I could come up to Minot, but I guess not now since I've got school.

[panchess]

..for one year, which is a step forward.. Hopefully they can get a few more Fridays, at least.

You have to figure attendance is at least 50% higher on the weekend than during the week. Given Minot's 1,500 or so average, it would be in the 2,000 range with more weekend games, and likely above the break-even level.

Coach Daleo was really happy in the Minot paper that ownership didn't have to spend $18,000 to fly to EK for one playoff game. That tells me that Minot isn't making any money.

[SUNKINGS]

Yakima draws the same weekdays/weekends etc. When they sucked they drew 1500 when the rock they draw 3500

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

..for one year, which is a step forward.. Hopefully they can get a few more Fridays, at least.

You have to figure attendance is at least 50% higher on the weekend than during the week. Given Minot's 1,500 or so average, it would be in the 2,000 range with more weekend games, and likely above the break-even level.

Coach Daleo was really happy in the Minot paper that ownership didn't have to spend $18,000 to fly to EK for one playoff game. That tells me that Minot isn't making any money.

I think TEN put it quite well in a post awhile back. These teams need to average a lot more in relationship to their lease agreements. They are losing a lot of money.

[Patroons1]

I agree, with the current way the CBA is structured, with the travel costs etc and even with a respectable amount of sponsorships, there does not appear to be any way a team can make money with anything less than somewhere around 3000 paying average per game (some teams maybe a little less attendance needed, some more due to arena fees and other factors).

Sadly, most CBA teams must be losing big bucks, 6 figures for sure. Having said that, this is a credit to all the owners (with a single exception) that the league has survived a 48 game season, with playoffs underway, in some of the most difficult times in the league's history.

However, unless there is a change, the current business model cannot be sustained for much longer, bottom line. Merge rumors suggest that owners acknowledge this fact. The leagues (PBL, CBA, some ABA) must merge, consolidate, cooperate or it is over collectively (not a question of if, just when). There is no alternative in my opinion.

Airlines, Banks, Oil Companies merge, it's now high time for minor league basketball!

Like most of us, my sincere desire that the league emerges stronger in many ways. This appears to be an opportunity to strengthen.

Also, the NBDL, although backed by the NBA, name and business experience, the huge franchise fee probably means the need for even more average fans to breakeven. Relatively, local owners in the NBDL are probably not much better off, save for a few top franchises. Watching when on TV, this league seems to be the king of inflated attendance. I think this league will also need a different model or this league will face problems down the road, sooner or later.

[OKCAVS67]

I think the NBDL was thrown together to be an in-your-face action to Isiah Thomas. And now after a few years even they have teams moving to new cities because of lack of fan support.

I don't see why the NBDL, CBA, PBL all merge to one league as a true minor league for the NBA.

[psbf]

as the merge talk is, we still have the All-Star game next season so keep that in mind. If a merger happens, it will not happen after this season, regardless of hope hopefull some may be.

[heavesrock]

Trust when I say the All-Star is not going to stop a merger. It is a very minor thing.

[psbf]

Given what you have said about the Xplosion in the past, you want me to TRUST you, rock?? I think not.

[skippy]

That's right PSBF. You can't trust anyone but me.

The merger of the leagues WILL be held up by the X hosting the 2008-09 season All-star game.

Do not listen when they try to tell you otherwise.

It's jealousy of the X, plain and simple. People conspiring against them and against you. I don't like it, but it's really obvious to see when you look for it.

Pittsburgh Xplosion and Minot Skyrockets are 2007-08 minor league basketball organizations fo the year for ALL leagues, and any talk otherwise is sour grapes.

[FrontOffice]

PSBF, there's always going to be a scheduled all-star game for the next year, why would that have anything to do with anything. If they merge, they merge but it won't be because of an all-star game in Pitt

[psbf]

get it, FO. That's easy for you to ask because you don't live up here. A merger between the leagues would put the All-Star game here in question, as a poster noted once. That IS a concern to ME, as an X fan, which is why I'm sure the merger will not take place at the end of this season.

[skippy]

Yesssssssssssssssssss!!!

STand up for yourself psbf!

You tell 'em !!!

[heavesrock]

Of course Tom Doyle and Dennis Truax will look down and say, "Dang it, psbf wants the all-star game in Pittsburgh. We can't merge anymore!"

[rams80]

get it, FO. That's easy for you to ask because you don't live up here. A merger between the leagues would put the All-Star game here in question, as a poster noted once. That IS a concern to ME, as an X fan, which is why I'm sure the merger will not take place at the end of this season.

Unfortunately, it's just you, and not 3000 of you. That game will be canceled if it interferes with the merger. Assuming Pittsburgh even makes the merger.

[FrontOffice]

You don't get it PSBF, and you never will. The X are apart of the league not the league apart of the X. If the league feels pulling the all-star game from Pitt works best for the league, they'll do it. It makes no difference whether the game was scheduled to be in Pitt, Minot or RGV, if a merger were to happen, things would probably change. Besides, the All-Star game is about item 343 on the list of things discussed with the merger. You're the only one who things it's important in the league's overall plans

[SUNKINGS]

The CBA allstar is such a non-event, they have it because all leagues do. It loses money with all the travel etc. PBSF think logically about this next ?.
If Mel Blount and Superstar Ben Rothlisberger cant draw any people to an X game do you really beleive that 24 basketball players that nobody has ever heard of playing an exhibition game will.

[psbf]

I don't recall saying that this was important for the league. It's important for the Xplosion, to make it part of the city's 250th birthday, which obviously has no meaning to anyone here. But you're right that it has no imporance on the league or the merger. I can only hope that this is only rumor now and that nothing happens in the immediate future.
Rams I'm sure that we will be a part of the merger, regardless of what you say. I'm sure the owner(s) have big pockets, if they would just spend it in the right ways, which I've emailed them suggestions for. The X drew a record crowd earlier(unfortunately it was for Atlanta and not for the Steelers). I'm sure they can bring them back. But they have to start doing what they did before, which I've also suggested.
Like I said, I'm concentrating on the playoffs and the X in Minot this week. NOTHING ELSE!!

[skippy]

Amen.

You concentrate on the playoffs, and I'll concentrate on the playoffs.

We shall see who has the stronger mind powers, Dr. X.

I will be using telekinesis to make the ball heavier when it is in DeGroat's hands.

I'm also working on something I call "Flubber" for the soles of the Skyrockets shoes.

May the best man win.

[bomp]

I agree, with the current way the CBA is structured, with the travel costs etc and even with a respectable amount of sponsorships, there does not appear to be any way a team can make money with anything less than somewhere around 3000 paying average per game (some teams maybe a little less attendance needed, some more due to arena fees and other factors).

Sadly, most CBA teams must be losing big bucks, 6 figures for sure. Having said that, this is a credit to all the owners (with a single exception) that the league has survived a 48 game season, with playoffs underway, in some of the most difficult times in the league's history.

However, unless there is a change, the current business model cannot be sustained for much longer, bottom line. Merge rumors suggest that owners acknowledge this fact. The leagues (PBL, CBA, some ABA) must merge, consolidate, cooperate or it is over collectively (not a question of if, just when). There is no alternative in my opinion.

Airlines, Banks, Oil Companies merge, it's now high time for minor league basketball!

Like most of us, my sincere desire that the league emerges stronger in many ways. This appears to be an opportunity to strengthen.

Also, the NBDL, although backed by the NBA, name and business experience, the huge franchise fee probably means the need for even more average fans to breakeven. Relatively, local owners in the NBDL are probably not much better off, save for a few top franchises. Watching when on TV, this league seems to be the king of inflated attendance. I think this league will also need a different model or this league will face problems down the road, sooner or later.

Based on my information, this poster knows what s/he is talking about.

The D-League won't last in the long run. The NBA owners don't see the need and Stern is not 'Commissioner for life'. Those owners don't want to support a minor league. Some even remember 'the good old days' when the CBA developed refs for the NBA and a few players got to get called up to fill-in. That didn't cost the NBA owners much. Now they have the D-League to support and that is not going over so well.

The ABA is a joke as any intelligent business person can see. Just write out a check to Newman and save yourself the trouble of actually thinking. :rolleyes:

The CBA has a few good owners and some structure. Forget about Tuckman and a few of the others who can pay their bills and then you have a league that operates. A small one but still a league with a history.

The PBL owners actually have a business plan and while a few of their owners have split, they seem to be learning from their mistakes. That is a new concept for minor league b-ball. Don't keep making the same mistakes over and over again.

I think if you put the PBL business smarts with the CBA teams that actually have money to operate and add in the 5-7 ABA teams that want to be ready for 'prime-time', I think that you might have the start of something.

National Advertisers
TV/Video at least on the web of all games
Update website with standings
Play 100% of matches
Pay players and other employees
Pay local vendors and hotels on time

Maybe 2 seven team divisions? 20 game schedules (2 home, 2 away matches) with regular season play only in your division to cut down costs. Playoff between division leaders sets us an exciting playoff series.

Manchester
Vermont
Quebec
Montreal
Halifax
Rochester
Albany
Buffalo

Pittsburgh
Ek
NC
Maryland
Jacksonville
Atlanta

QC
Yakima
Butte
OK
RGV
Chicago


I am sure left out a team and some of the owners don't have the money to field a proper team, Nothing new here but travel has gotten to be deal with using large vans or discount airlines as a sponsor. The rosters need to have one or two players that can be marketed around. New bunch of players every season doesn't help build the team which will require having two players paid more to keep then in to to build the franchise.

The CBA/PBL deal will have to prove to the NBA owners that they are the vehicle for development and that will encourage more players to think about staying in the U.S.

[FrontOffice]

I actually like that idea. And it's one thing that the MLS does that I actually like. They allow each team exceptions to sign up to 2 International players away from the bigger Euro Leagues and they don't count against the salary cap. A Minor League system could employ the same thing. It would be a way for a team to encourage a local player to stay in the area instead of going overseas. Obviously, each team wouldn't have to use it if they didn't see it as being fiscally responsible but imagine how much more fan support you'd have and cooperation from sponsors. Of course, you'd have to limit it to 1 player for each team but it could work.

There's any number of things that could help a franchise on the whole by having a local hero on the team. Merchandise sales, sponsorships/trade packages, recruiting, cooperation from local schools/colleges/universities.

[rams80]

I don't recall saying that this was important for the league. It's important for the Xplosion, to make it part of the city's 250th birthday, which obviously has no meaning to anyone here. But you're right that it has no imporance on the league or the merger. I can only hope that this is only rumor now and that nothing happens in the immediate future.
Rams I'm sure that we will be a part of the merger, regardless of what you say. I'm sure the owner(s) have big pockets, if they would just spend it in the right ways, which I've emailed them suggestions for. The X drew a record crowd earlier(unfortunately it was for Atlanta and not for the Steelers). I'm sure they can bring them back. But they have to start doing what they did before, which I've also suggested.
Like I said, I'm concentrating on the playoffs and the X in Minot this week. NOTHING ELSE!!

I'm not sure the rest of Pittsburgh feels the All Star game is important to the anniversary based on the attendance of their CBA team. What did the owners do to get 2000 to show up? Have you ever told us?

[psbf]

Rams, they had give-aways before the game. Apparently sponsored by local authorities. Balloons shaped like sticks with information on how to report weapons(Red, black lettering) and an officer was addressing the crowd at halftime. I believe they may have even had a halftime Basketball scrimmage, if I remember correctly.

[Pounder]

I'm also working on something I call "Flubber" for the soles of the Skyrockets shoes.


Flubber is SOOOOO 50's.

I'm sure Michael Jordan had something more advanced in his shoes.

[DakotaWiz]

Merging is a good idea, but I don't think the NBA would just dissolve the D-League like it seems is supported in the plans for the teams post-merger earlier in this post...