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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:85
Level:All-Star
Since:Jul 3, 2007
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This is just absurd. I have been in CLT for 7 years now and have never seen a town so unapprecative of having a NBA franchise in my life!!!!! Isn't NC supposed to be basketball country??? This year the record does not show it but we ( the Bobcats) definitely have a team on the court this year. Not to mention a future superstar in the making in Gerald Wallace. And what do I see at the games and on the message boards??? Minimal participation and support for our team. I can not belive the lack of support we have here in this city. You can bash me all you want but this is just SAD!!!!! We have something really exciting going on here with the Bobcats in only a few years (improving each year) and yet we still can not get people to come to the games nor even maintain a decent message board for the team. I was hoping we might one day get a MLB team here for baseball but I can see now why no MLB owner would want to come here. Charlotte fans can not support a major team. Even the Panthers who have been a decent NFL team, if not better, can not get fans to the game. PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!! I am soo frustrated right now I am at a loss for words. I myself will still be pulling for the Bobcats this whole season win or lose!!!! Anyone else who is an actual fan I apologize for this post as it is not directed towards you. OK...now that I have that off my chest...we can move forward;) Go Bobcats and one heck of a week this week boys!!!!! You have hung tight with the best teams in the NBA!!!!
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:74
Level:Pro
Since:Nov 4, 2007
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C'mon, you know the answer to that question.
The Bobcats are dealing with to large issues:
- They are dealing with a poisoned well. The Hornets left a very bad taste in the mouths of many Charlotte fans, and the situation on how they got their stadium still resonates with the tenuous fan base. Plus,even a city has a tough time getting over its first love, and since that first love was here......
- ....the Panthers arrived. Charlotte for all its banks and businesses, only has a finite pool of money for pro sports entertainment dollars. The Panthers suck up a huge amount of that money with PSLs, standard ticket prices, and the generally more popular NFL.
- Charlotte is a transplant town. People still support their own teams from wherever they came from to a large extent. The Hornets were here not quite long enough to establish themselves as a team with generational love, and the Bobcats had to start over from scratch and at a disadvantage (see 1 and 2).
Because they have not been here for a generation and have not won, they have not created a fan base. Now I'll tell you, I was on the phone with one of the Season Ticket Account Execs on Friday, and they are really pushing people to come to the games, see that it is a great experience, and spread the word. I plan on getting at least the 12 game package next season. In this town, the 'Cats are going to need to win and show sustained excellence before the fans come around.
As for MLB, I still believe there is not a large enough base to sustain 81 home games in this city, at least not after the first year or two of novelty. You'll have to settle for the Knights for now :)
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:33
Level:Rookie
Since:Feb 12, 2008
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JonnJonzz, I've heard those excuses before, and while I'll agree with #1 and #2 to a small degree (I don't think Charlotte is a small market when you factor in the population within an hour's drive), I think there are more complex things that need to be factored in:
1 -- The city residents resenting the building of Bobcats Arena. The voters voted against it and they were circumvented and it was built anyhow. Many people still resent that.
2 -- The NBA as a whole is down. The level of play is down and many find it unappealing to watch.
3 -- Very poor marketing. Bad log, bad team name.
Initially, the game experience was geared towards african americans. They've since changed that and made it more widely universal, but many non-african americans were turned off by the presentation and game experience.
4 -- The horrendous decision to sign with Time Warner and Time Warner ONLY. Most any sports fan in the Carolinas has some sort of Satellite system.
5 -- Poor choice of coaches. Bickerstaff and to a greater degree Vincent are poor NBA coaches that didn't and don't utilize their talent effectively.
6 -- Since the team's inception, they've had a near 80% turnover in staff in the front office. They've completely changed the basketball operations side, marketing side and ticket sales side as well and there were some former employees that were threatening to sue them about a year ago.
How can they fix it? Change the uniform design (coming, although they made the blue the predominant color already). Change the coach (probably coming), and fix the TV deal so that people can easily see more than 10 games a year. I can't get to many games due to my job and my small children, but I watch on TV when I can. I'd watch more if I could, but I despise Time Warner.
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 16, 2006
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Ill be Charlotte mid-July. Can count on atleast 1 more fan that will show up consistently to games.
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 23, 2007
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- They are dealing with a poisoned well. The Hornets left a very bad taste in the mouths of many Charlotte fans, and the situation on how they got their stadium still resonates with the tenuous fan base. Plus,even a city has a tough time getting over its first love, and since that first love was here......
I totally agree with this point.
I was in Charlotte during the Hornet heydays. I remember always scoffing at all the so-called experts saying that the Charlotte market could never sustain a NBA market. The largest city in the heart of a basketball crazy state. Really?
And when the NBA finally woke the F up and gave us our team we came in droves. We led the league in attendance for years, from the time we had the worst record in the league until we became a playoff team. Before I moved to Charlotte, I used to drive from Greensboro for at least three home games a month. I know a lot of others did the same.
The Hornets were becoming a power in the NBA. Things couldn't be going better.
Then Shinn had to make his little power play and shove all that goodwill down the toilet. Fans have a long memory. Especially when it comes to basketball in North Carolina.
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 4, 2007
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Well, ive been to all of our home games but about 3, and i voice my opinions every night. I made a vow to myself that ill never support a team outside North Carolina unless there isnt a team there at all. Used to like the Lakers, but then we got the Bobcats back in Charlotte for us. Bobcats immediatly became my team.
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:86
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 1, 2007
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Why don't the Bobcats just move to Raleigh in the Heart of Basketball Country (At least the biggest town in the triangle) They Could be the Carolina Bobcats, and all the Duke, UNC, and NC State fans could have their NBA fix. You know the Hurricanes do quite well in Raleigh at the RBC center.
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 5, 2007
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dmp3811....
should we move the panthers to raleigh too? Ive never heard a more ridiculous statement in my entire life.
1. The hurricanes are winning.
2. Charlotte has more people than Raleigh. The end.
3. Hmmm...well considering how the majority of that population is college students are they going to shelve out the money to see a game?
4. Charlotte is by far the biggest city in NC, and by far the most marketable city in NC. Raleigh sucks, The towns of interest in NC go as follows
1-Charlotte
2-Wilmington
3-Greensboro
4-Raleigh
Raleigh may be third and i could be exagerating for effect but Charlotte is bigger in business period. And Wilmington has Screen Gem Studios and a nice bit of celebrities running around. (Even if they are B-List celebs)
Greensboro houses the ACC tournament that for SOME reason NEVER goes to raleigh. YAY!
Raleigh has the capitol building and tools.
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 22, 2007
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I have to agree with RogueK9 on this one. George Shinn is the answer to the question. He created a love affair(pun intended) with the fans and then broke our hearts. Hate born of a broken heart doesn't heal quickly. The Bobkittys are paying for the jilt that George has dealt us. I was living in Charlotte when we got the Hornets and emotions were even higher than they were for the Panthers anouncement. Many fans still have some of their gear, I do too. Also Bob and team management need to do more to appeal to a greater fan base. Their concentration is on a very small segment of this market. I now live 100 miles away but in the Charlotte tv market. Even local coverage talks about them as if the team was from the Midwest or something. Shinn was an ass but he knew how to promote the team. Bob should look at what the Hornets management did.
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 20, 2007
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I'm a diehard Bobcat fan living in Charleston and you don't know how much I appreciate the smallest things like catching the games on the radio. To hear that people living in Charlotte don't appreciate the Bobcats really irritates me. You have a franchise with beloved players from a local college (Felton, May, McInnis) and a superstar in G-Force. You also have the greatest player to ever play as the VP.
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:81
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 17, 2008
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I support the Bobcats, even though it is frustrating at times to watch the results based upon the decent talent that the team has ... the fact that the season ticket plans are changing again this coming season may change my support though .. MJ et al need to stil allow for the inexpensive season ticket plans until a consistent product / winner is proven on the court
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 25, 2006
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I lived in Charlotte for 8 years myself. I went to UNC-Charlotte for graduate school, and Bobby Lutz had more support in Halton Arena than Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats.
Just wait to see what happens to Panther fans when they have a losing season next year. Charlotte is NOT a sports town, but they do love their College sports.
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 28, 2006
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Don't draft anymore Heels unless they are great( Felton is the exception). Where are all the Tarheel fans when Charlotte is playing? In Chapel Hill watching Carolina. They aren't going to drive to Charlotte to watch the Bobcats over the Heels. We need to get some veterans who can play on the team. Maybe this new deal with Time Warner will get the ratings up and get people to the arena.
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 19, 2006
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Ive lived in Charlotte for my entire, short life of 16 years, and I would love to go to Bobcats games, but two things really stop me from going.
1) It is really expensive to go to the games. The cheapest ticket is $10, and the people at the arena are real queer about not letting people move down even if they cant even fill the lower bowl. Also, the food is expensive. Ive gone there and dropped almost $25 on food alone. Now people will say that everything is pro sports is expensive, but when you have 41 home games to try to lure people into going, it really couldnt hurt to lower prices.
2) They really dont promote, and when they do, they fail in doing so miserably. Yes, they do place ad's on tv, the paper, and the radio, but they all stink, and every promotion is either for a game i cant go to, or to watch the Heat or the T-wolves, which is something i refuse to do. Also, the TV deal is a huge mess. Ive watched a game on TWC, and i can almost swear to you that my high schools morning announcements are done better than the games. They stink, and until they get a better TV deal, they wont create buzz.
It would also help to, oh well i dont know, get our big names in the front office to show up at the games? Ive only heard of once in our history of MJ being on the court before a game to shake hands with the fans, something he should be doing every night.
I would also like to see them draft someone other than fan favorites in the draft. Heels can gripe all they want, but for the exception for Okafor, every player we've drafted has been a BUST. Felton and May have been busts, because Felton is inconsistent and MAy has been hurt, especially when we couldve traded up a few spots and landed Chris Paul, a local talent and future hall of famer if he keeps this pace up. Morrison has been a bust with his injuries, and Wright wouldve busted, but we shipped him off to Golden State to bust there.
until they can shape up and work with their heads, and not their hearts, then they may have a chance to be a big draw to charlotte
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Where is the fan support in Charlotte?????
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Reputation:87
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 19, 2008
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I know i am really late on seeing this, mainly because I've only glancingly looked at the Cats page on here, but if you've only been here 7 years you have no place to talk, better yet, when it comes to sports here in Charlotte, turn off your PC and dont even get on the internet. I've been in Charlotte since 84 when they were just building the Coliseum out off Tyvola (which i dinstictly remember my father mocking due to it's location at that | |
