Explain the Pain: Just Why Isn't There Fan Support for the Nets?

Why are Knicks fans going to root for the Nets in Brooklyn? The Lakers could move to my town and I still would root for the Nets.

 

Because you, like most people here, care more than the average fan.

 

I watched that guy yelling at Mike Breen and Mike looking up at him (I think Breen said something to him). It was weird...one guy with Knicks jersey cursing out the Nets, standing next to a guy with a Nets jersey.

 

And the concourse is crowded even when the arena isn't. I will say this: The ushers have gotten a ton nicer this year at IZOD. We have family in Cleveland and have gone to some Cavs games...and all the ushers smile, say hello...and thank you at the end of the game. I have had a number of bad experiences with surly ushers in the past at our arena, but now...many of them actually say thank you now when you are leaving. Yormark is doing a thankless, but awesome job trying to con and bribe people to come to games.

 

The ushers have gotten a lot better this year. Although, I've notice that the lower level ushers are a lot better than upper level sometimes. In fact in my season tickets seats in 225, we sometimes don't even get an usher. Which is a riot when you have kids that come on field trips and such jumping all over the place taking any seat they want. But anyways, Yormark is doing a great job getting people in the seats this year I think considering I think we could be avg numbers like the Bobcats. I did the numbers the other day (I was bored) and we avg about 16,400 I think it was. He's also a hell of a nice guy. If you ever see him walking around the arena don't be shy to go up to him. In fact all I said to him was hey Mr.Yormark and he ended up talking to me for a good 10 minutes.

 

Madison square is just located at the city, and izod center isn't, that's the huge difference.

 

I just really can't stand driving to/from the Meadowlands. It's an unpleasant trip all around...I hate the highways around it, driving around the roads to get to the parking lot sucks, there's nothing to do nearby, etc. And it takes me 45 minutes to get there from my house (even though I'm only about 20 miles away), so adding together the total time spent going to the game and getting home, it's almost a 5 hour deal...

 

Too funny.

 

Location, location, location. And I know the fan support affects the players sometimes but you know there are still those little fans who do show up every game just play your heart out for them and for the good percentage of Nets fan who are bitter about the Brooklyn move, or can't get to the Izod center and chose to watch on TV.

Even if they do move to Brooklyn I think there will be just as many Knick fans in that arena as it always is.

 

Can those who are fans of the Devils as well post if their move to the Rock has been positive in terms of attendance in contrast to the Meadowlands? Thanks

 

I am a casual Devils fan. I have a weird habit of checking the attendance in the box scores of Devils games on a frequent basis and if their has been a significant increase in attendance I haven't seen it in the numbers.

 

I am a Nets fan who relocated to the Boston area right before the Jason Kidd era began. I have continued to support the Nets from a distance and even bought a 7 game weekend package one season down in the swamp. I try and attend all of the Nets games up here in Boston and even when they had bad seasons here, the arena was always packed and the atmosphere was great. I am personally looking forward to the Brooklyn move because I know I would attend at least 4-5 games a year because I have a few family members who live in Brooklyn and Manhattan. I think the Brooklyn move is our only hope to put people in the seats. The Nets must hate playing at home in the IZOD Center with what must seem like a lack of support for the team but in fact it is a lack of support for the arena.

 

I agree with the line about lack of support for the arena. And another thing; when there has been subtle criticism for lack of fan support made by a player (or even some members of the media), it pisses me off. There are those of us who are ardent supporters...just not enough of us. But it feels like those critical players need to say, "of course, we appreciate those who are diehard supporters, who stick with us, who come out to support the team on a regular basis."

We buy our tickets...and jerseys and hats. And watch on TV and listen to the radio (and represent eyeballs for the sponsors who are buying ads).

There may not be enough support but there IS support.

 

when the nets play like they did tonight can you blame the fans for not cheering. Part of the blame should go to the players when they play as poorly as they do tonight...

On a side note wasn't it funny when vc made his first foul shot? Boy did the crowd erupt! ...lol!!

 

I agree 100% with you.



What a crappy establishment.

 

It does help when MSG is RIGHT in the middle of the city and theres always tourist. Downtown New York City is ALWAYS live. Plus theres easy transportation, I myself can walk, or take the train and bus to MSG. IZOD center is in the middle of no where. Ai'nt nobody around them. If MSG was in the middle of nowhere and had horrible transportation, they wouldn't attract as many fans as they do now.

 

According to this:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance

...Devils' attendance has increased by about 1000 people (on average) per game since the move to Newark. Devils' attendance in Newark is approximately the same as the Nets' attendance at IZOD. I would guess that an NBA team would do much better in Newark than an NHL team (I don't think of Newark as a "hockey town")...

 

When Vince hit his first free throw, I actually said out loud, "that just made the night". It was the only bright spot in a terrible night (except Trent Hassel's play of course).

 

On the note about the Devils attendance...if the Devils consider 700-1000 more people, a considerable number I find that laughable. If your going to build that kind of state of the art arena and spend that kind of money, Im sure you hope for better numbers. But I guess you got to be happy when your doing better in Newark of all places with a Hockey team.

If the Nets move to Brooklyn and only have an increase of 700-1000 fans...in the words of the great Ricky Ricardo...Ratners gonna have some splannin to do.....

 

There's less seats in the Pru, so their capacity filled is much higher. Plus, the tickets cost more. More luxury boxes too.