NBA Season-Ticket Sales Record

Its almost time for another basketball season, and the TakeDown for today will discuss how the NBA is growing and maintaining its fan base from which players are where, to how the league is being managed.

According to Sportsbusinessdaily.com's inside analyst Terry Lefton, the NBA is set to break a new record for their season-ticket sales, due to a variety of marketing strategies.


Corporate Moves: The Executive Vice President of the NBA's marketing and operations division Amy Brooks, says that the league estimates a growth of about 50,000 new full-season tickets, giving the league a new record of over 275,000 tickets for the upcoming season. Marketing the league in such a way has also caused a season-ticket renewal rate of 80-85% for the upcoming season, the fifth consecutive season above 80%.

NBA Fantasy: FanDual is a sports fantasy company who has just made a big impact at the NBA team reaching a $2 million deal with the Orlando Magic. The New York based company has also backed a $70 million deal in new financing to influence a potential league wide deal in the sponsoring fantasy sports category. The league currently discusses the possibility for FanDual as well as competitors to land a league wide deal, as a ban from selling advertisements to league wide fantasy companies was lifted this past September.

Brazil's interest in Orlando: Orlando has been focusing their marketing strategies to Brazilian tourists who consistently travel to Orlando in the winter months. Largely due to the Disney experience, but it is interesting to see if the Magic can capitalize on the city's preexisting tourist attraction. Magic CEO Alex Martins says that the team is now working with Brazilian Management companies in order to sell to the influx of international visitors.

Magic CEO Alex Martins wants include Magic games with Disney for Brazilian visitors
Photo credit: AP IMAGES

Miscellaneous: The league's most well known player and marketing idol LeBron Jame's return to Cleveland and the rebranding of the Charlotte Hornets have also been responsible for an increase of season tickets for the '14-'15 season. Both teams are atop of the list of leaders for the leagues leaders in full-sales, but Brooks also credits the marketing success to more teams using the LinkedIn Sales navigator tool. The navigation tool helps sales it helps find more targeted leads, and gives the opportunity to sell not just in season-tickets, but suits and sponsorships. She say it is a "lead-generation tool" that gives teams a tremendous edge in using social media to boost business.