tinysands
2007-04-13, 12:51 PM
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) named a top 3 major league franchise by ESPN Magazine
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA041307.01C.SpursESPN.2ca3495.html
Web Posted: 04/12/2007 08:12 PM CDT
Travis E. Poling
Express-News Business Writer
The San Antonio Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) were named No. 2 among 122 pro sports franchises in ESPN Magazine's Ultimate Standings.
This makes the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) the only team to make the top three in the standings for five years running, based on team financial data and fan feedback. They ranked No. 1 on the list in 2004.
Hockey's Buffalo Sabres were No. 1 on the list and the NBA's Dallas Mavericks were ranked third.
"Winning games always helps," team Chairman Peter Holt said of the recognition. "But the back office is a huge part of it, and the players stay involved in the community year-round. There's constantly a positive, consistent message. We just want to read about our guys on the sports page. We don't want to read about them in the police blotter."
Holt also said Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) Sports & Entertainment has turned the corner and will make a profit this year for the first time since the mid-1990s, thanks to the AT&T Center and the enterprise's management of the venue.
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) Sports & Entertainment includes the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) franchise, WNBA's Silver Stars and minor league hockey franchise Rampage. It also manages and books the AT&T Center for all events except the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
For the ESPN ranking, the magazine polled 1,000 sports fans across the country on what they wanted most from their experience with a sports franchise. From that data, 80,000 people were surveyed to rate the experience.
"It's great for the people who work in the trenches," said Russ Bookbinder, the Spurs' executive vice president of business operations. "It all comes down to the people." Even with the success of the team, he said, the organization can't rest on its laurels because of the small size of the market and the low per-capita income. That keeps them doing all they can to retain existing fans and customers and to gain new ones.
Ticket prices played a big role in the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) ranking. Also considered were leadership, community involvement, providing for fan feedback and the stadium or arena.
"It's always nice to be recognized for doing things that are consistent with the values of your organization and your team," Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) general manager R.C. Buford said. "With the economics of the San Antonio market, we can't do the big payrolls," but they do spend money on keeping All-Star players and "to get the best teammates we can to support the core."
Also considered was "bang for the buck." ESPN used the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon to analyze how well a franchise converted fan dollars into wins.
ESPN lauded Gregg Popovich, coach and vice president of basketball operations, for keeping the payroll near the league average of $66 million.
According to the magazine, "The Angels, Colts, Pistons, Steelers and Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have ranked in our top 10 in each of the past three years. What do they have in common? First, homegrown and hardworking players. Second, committed owners and smart GMs who don't mind spending money but who don't stretch their budgets so far that average fans can't afford to support their spending. And third — well, what do you know! — they're financially successful."
Holt said getting out of the Alamodome "changed our ability to stay competitive. This year, we're going to make some money."
Last year, Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) Sports & Entertainment broke even, he said.
Holt said there will be no dividend to the ownership group, and the money will be reinvested into building the value of the franchise. "They're very patient," he said.
Forbes magazine estimated the value of the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) franchise in 2006 at $390 million. Holt and other investors bought the team 11 years ago from B.J. "Red" McCombs for $76 million.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA041307.01C.SpursESPN.2ca3495.html
Web Posted: 04/12/2007 08:12 PM CDT
Travis E. Poling
Express-News Business Writer
The San Antonio Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) were named No. 2 among 122 pro sports franchises in ESPN Magazine's Ultimate Standings.
This makes the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) the only team to make the top three in the standings for five years running, based on team financial data and fan feedback. They ranked No. 1 on the list in 2004.
Hockey's Buffalo Sabres were No. 1 on the list and the NBA's Dallas Mavericks were ranked third.
"Winning games always helps," team Chairman Peter Holt said of the recognition. "But the back office is a huge part of it, and the players stay involved in the community year-round. There's constantly a positive, consistent message. We just want to read about our guys on the sports page. We don't want to read about them in the police blotter."
Holt also said Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) Sports & Entertainment has turned the corner and will make a profit this year for the first time since the mid-1990s, thanks to the AT&T Center and the enterprise's management of the venue.
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) Sports & Entertainment includes the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) franchise, WNBA's Silver Stars and minor league hockey franchise Rampage. It also manages and books the AT&T Center for all events except the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
For the ESPN ranking, the magazine polled 1,000 sports fans across the country on what they wanted most from their experience with a sports franchise. From that data, 80,000 people were surveyed to rate the experience.
"It's great for the people who work in the trenches," said Russ Bookbinder, the Spurs' executive vice president of business operations. "It all comes down to the people." Even with the success of the team, he said, the organization can't rest on its laurels because of the small size of the market and the low per-capita income. That keeps them doing all they can to retain existing fans and customers and to gain new ones.
Ticket prices played a big role in the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) ranking. Also considered were leadership, community involvement, providing for fan feedback and the stadium or arena.
"It's always nice to be recognized for doing things that are consistent with the values of your organization and your team," Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) general manager R.C. Buford said. "With the economics of the San Antonio market, we can't do the big payrolls," but they do spend money on keeping All-Star players and "to get the best teammates we can to support the core."
Also considered was "bang for the buck." ESPN used the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon to analyze how well a franchise converted fan dollars into wins.
ESPN lauded Gregg Popovich, coach and vice president of basketball operations, for keeping the payroll near the league average of $66 million.
According to the magazine, "The Angels, Colts, Pistons, Steelers and Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have ranked in our top 10 in each of the past three years. What do they have in common? First, homegrown and hardworking players. Second, committed owners and smart GMs who don't mind spending money but who don't stretch their budgets so far that average fans can't afford to support their spending. And third — well, what do you know! — they're financially successful."
Holt said getting out of the Alamodome "changed our ability to stay competitive. This year, we're going to make some money."
Last year, Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) Sports & Entertainment broke even, he said.
Holt said there will be no dividend to the ownership group, and the money will be reinvested into building the value of the franchise. "They're very patient," he said.
Forbes magazine estimated the value of the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) franchise in 2006 at $390 million. Holt and other investors bought the team 11 years ago from B.J. "Red" McCombs for $76 million.