God of NBA point guards

Chapter 509 Worship
David Stern has previously received season ticket prices for Los Angeles and the Knicks, which were $88 for Los Angeles and $105 for the Knicks.

"100 USD?"

He feels that the price set by Seattle management is a bit conservative.

After King of Iron Fist completed the professional boxing heavyweight unification battle, he also won several golf championships. His current global influence and box office appeal are even higher than before his retirement.

The Sonics can definitely be bolder. Although the current economy of the Seattle metropolitan area is not as good as Los Angeles and New York, it is not bad. There is a very large middle class, and the spending power can fully support higher ticket prices.Even if it doesn't work, sales are not ideal, but you can make adjustments in time.

He picked up the phone and started contacting Seattle to offer his advice.

"120 USD?"

"Is this what President Stern means?"

"Higher than the season when we won three consecutive championships?"

"Would it be a little risky?"

"Either you try it first, and if it doesn't work, then adjust it downwards?"

After the management received the call, they discussed it for a while, and then decided to sell it at a price of US$120 first and US$4920 for the whole set.

Next, the management will announce the season ticket sales price through Seattle TV.

Although it has been announced, everyone in the management is still worried. They don't know what the sales will be like tomorrow. If it is too bad, the fans will definitely scold the management.

……

The next day, before six o'clock in the morning on the 25th, before dawn, there was a long queue at the ticket gate of Seattle's Microsoft Center Arena.

Because he was thinking about tomorrow's season ticket sales, SuperSonics president Frank Lewis didn't sleep well all night. When he came to the headquarters with a pair of panda eyes at around [-] o'clock in the morning, he was startled by the long queue, and then haha Laughed loudly.

Like him, general manager Whitsitt also changed from worry to excitement when he saw countless fans lining up when he came in the morning.

"Five more sales windows."

Frank Lewis turned five windows into ten with a wave of his hand.

By noon, the morning sales data came out, and 2120 units were sold. The half-day sales were close to all season ticket sales last season.

Based on this data, it can be predicted that there is a 90% chance that season ticket sales will exceed 8000 units this season, and there is even a chance of exceeding [-] units.

"Call Iron Fist King and tell him the good news." Frank Lewis said excitedly.

After Zhou Quan received the news, he was also very happy. This shows that his influence in Seattle has not diminished, and it also shows that Seattle's economy is very good.

In the past two seasons, the SuperSonics' market shrank significantly and was taken away by the other three major professional sports leagues. Now they are trying to get it back.

At six o'clock in the afternoon that day, the season ticket sales ended. Half an hour later, the statistics came out, and 4045 units were sold in one day.

"Oh hoo!"

The entire Supersonics headquarters cheered because of this data.

This data was not only immediately notified to team owners Ballmer and Zhou Quan, but also to David Stern.

"awesome!"

After receiving the news, Stern, who was waiting for the news before he got off work, was so excited that his eyes were red.

He also just received today's season ticket sales for the Lakers and Knicks. The Lakers are 2130 units and the Knicks are 2265 units, both of which are very good.

Next, SuperSonics season ticket sales continued, with another 2861 sets sold the next day, and another 10 sets sold on October 27, the third day, for a total of 1545 sets sold in three days.

This data is already close to the 96 sets in the 97/8560 season. Breaking the SuperSonics' season ticket sales record is just around the corner.

On the 27th, Zhang Lili and Xu Jicheng rushed to Seattle with a three-person photography team. Zhou Quan took the five people from the airport to his home and invited them to dinner.

The 28th is the SuperSonics’ media day for the new season.

We took various promotional photos before ten o'clock. After resting for half an hour, we entered the media session at 10:30.

The News Hall No. 500 of the Central Gymnasium can accommodate [-] people. At this time, it was almost full of people, half of whom were from overseas media.

"Crack clap..."

When Zhou Quan led his teammates out, the hall immediately rang with the sound of shutters and flashes of light.

Group shots, multiple shots, and individual shots took more than ten minutes before entering the question-and-answer session.

The host gave Zhou Quan face and was the first to point to Zhang Lili. Zhang Lili called Zhou Quan by his nickname and asked: "Iron Fist King, the SuperSonics were eighth in the Western Conference last season and barely made it to the playoffs with only 26 wins. The winning rate was just over [-]% and they were swept by the Spurs in the first round. What is your goal for this season?"

Zhou Quan said last time that the SuperSonics' goal this season is to train new players. This time he still said very cautiously: "The playoffs are our first goal, a higher goal. We must strive to reach the top." Half zone.”

"Iron Fist King, is the championship the Sonics' goal this season?" The next question was from a reporter from the Seattle Times.

Zhou Quan said with a smile: "Of course, the championship is our ultimate goal. But we need to pursue our goals more rationally, step by step.

So this season, our most realistic and most likely goal is to reach the top half and then strive to enter the second round or even the Western Conference Finals.Of course, if given the opportunity, we will not give up our pursuit of the championship. "

At this time, President Frank Lewis received a report from his assistant. Today's season ticket sales have reached 250 sets, and the total sales reached 8704 sets, breaking the team's historical record of 96 sets in the 97/8560 season.

He interrupted the host, picked up a microphone and said excitedly: "Ladies and gentlemen, now I have good news to announce. Our season ticket sales have broken the record, breaking the historical record of our team."

"Oh!"

"Clap clap clap..."

Hundreds of media reporters and photographers exclaimed and then began to applaud.

Zhou Quan also laughed. It seems that the sales of season tickets have exceeded [-].

As long as the sales volume of 5000 sets is reached, nearly 5400 million U.S. dollars can be earned. The team's entire salary is [-] million. If the sales volume of the package exceeds [-], the salary cost can basically be recovered.

The sales of his jerseys have exceeded 100 million pieces, and the team can share tens of millions of dollars in revenue.

And because of his influence, the Sonics now have more than a dozen domestic sponsors, and their revenue is no less than ten million US dollars per season.

November 1999, 11, the day before the start of the regular season.

At 1.2 p.m., Seattle's season ticket sales ended, exceeding 5900 units at the last minute, with season ticket sales revenue of $[-] million.

The news spread throughout the United States that night, and dozens of TV stations across the country rushed to report it.

That evening, the league also announced the season ticket sales of all teams through NBC TV's Nightly Sports News.

Compared with last season, season ticket prices for all league teams have increased to varying degrees, with an average increase of 35%.

While the price has increased, sales have also increased to varying degrees. The biggest improvement is of course the supersonic, and the smallest improvement is the piston. The price has only increased by 10%, and the sales volume has only increased by 23%.

Overall, the total season ticket sales revenue of all teams in the league this season has increased by 1.27 times compared with last season, adding US$2.5 million in operating income to the league.

……

The next day, the opening day of the 99/00 regular season.

"Seattle surpasses New York to become the NBA's No. [-] ball market." Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

"The return of King of Iron Fist has caused the NBA league's operating income to skyrocket. Season ticket revenue alone has increased by US$2.5 million, and overseas operating income has increased by nearly US$2 million. It is expected that the NBA league will increase by nearly US$[-] million this season due to the return of King of Iron Fist." With operating income, league is back on track." Wall Street Journal.

"The NBA's national ratings are expected to surge compared to last season, and NBC Television, which obtained the television broadcast contract at a low price, will become the biggest winner." Los Angeles Times.Starting from the afternoon, a large number of fans began to gather in the square of the new Seattle Microsoft Center Arena, and by the evening, it was already overcrowded.

The SuperSonics' opening game opponent is the Clippers, which arrived in Seattle yesterday.

The Clippers had the second-to-last regular season record in the Western Conference and the second-to-last in the league last season, with 9 wins and 41 losses. This season’s lineup has not been strengthened. It was difficult to operate in the first two seasons, and owner Sterling was not willing to spend money. Money to strengthen and just want to squeeze dollars out of the team.

At 06:30, Zhou Quan’s car arrived at the New Center Stadium.

Zhou Jianguo and Zhou Ye also came, but Zeng Li did not come. Pregnancy was not suitable for such an occasion. Lin Yufen took care of her at home.

"Iron Fist..."

Seeing Zhou Quan's car coming, countless fans in the square shouted. He did not dare to completely lower the window, only lowered it a little and kept waving.

A team of security guards came to maintain order and guided Zhou Quan's car into the parking lot.

"My eldest brother is amazing!"

Zhou Ye looked at the excited fans outside the car. She was no less excited than these fans, and she was absolutely honored.

"Roger, take care of my dad and my sister."

"OK."

Coming down from the parking lot, we followed the winding corridor to the players' tunnel, where Roger Philippe was waiting. He said hello and went to the locker room.

Zhou Jianguo and Zhou Ye followed Philip into the stadium from the player tunnel and came to the home team's bench. In addition to Zhou Quan's exclusive seat, the SuperSonics also gifted three front-row seats. The three of them were just right, but Zhou Quan's exclusive seat was still empty.

Zhou Quan's exclusive seat was unique and decorated with gold rims. Zhou Ye went to sit there specially.

“This gym is so big!”

She looked around at the huge arena. Countless fans were pouring in from all entrances. It was very spectacular.

"Your brother is playing here for the first time today." Zhou Jianguo said.

"Uh-huh."

Zhou Ye nodded, pointed at the many square billboards on the sidelines and smiled: "Dad, there are so many domestic companies, more than when Big Brother won three consecutive championships."

"In recent years, domestic development has been getting better and better, and more and more companies have gone abroad. Your elder brother is really right." Zhou Jianguo said with a smile.

Although he is recuperating from illness, he has not lost his job as a domestic agent. These domestic sponsors all contacted the SuperSonics through his introduction.

……

At eight o'clock, the two sides announced the starting lineup.

Clippers: Michael Olowokandi, Lamar Odom, Morrison Taylor, Derek Anderson, Eric Murdock

SuperSonics: Campbell, Rodman, Corey Maggette, Brent Barry, Zhou Quan
The game was broadcast live across the United States on NBC, and the commentators were former NBA stars James Worthy and John Moore.

James Worthy said: "Tonight is the Iron Fist King's first official NBA game two years after his retirement, and it is also his first game in the new home of the SuperSonics. The opponent is the weak Clippers, and the opponent is his 91 Same year show Eric Murdoch.

Murdock has already experienced two serious injuries and is even on the verge of retirement. I believe that the first regular season game after King of Iron Fist's comeback will be very successful. "

John Moore smiled and said: "The SuperSonics season ticket price is as high as 4920 US dollars, and the average price of a single home game is 120 US dollars. James, do you know how much the tickets for this opening game are?"

"I don't know, do you know?" James Worthy asked immediately and cooperatively.

"The average price of Iron Fist's first game in Seattle after his comeback was as high as 550 US dollars, and front row tickets were as high as [-] US dollars, which was higher than the finals tickets in the previous two seasons." John Moore said.

"So high? Those who bought the package tickets made a lot of money." Looking at the packed arena, James Worthy said in surprise.

"1.2 season tickets, that is to say, 2.2% of the people in this stadium that can accommodate 54.5 people per game come with season tickets. There are at least 2 people outside the arena who can't get in. The SuperSonics The attendance this season is definitely No. [-] in the league." John Moore said excitedly.

In the CCTV commentary box, Zhang Lili said excitedly: "Dear viewers, we haven't seen each other for two seasons, and we are back."

"Yes, we haven't seen each other for two years." Xu Jicheng sighed.

"I hope that in the new season, Zhou Quan will achieve good results after his comeback." Zhang Lili said expectantly.

……

Player tunnel, starting meeting.

"Eric, long time no see."

When Zhou Quan saw the opponent's point guard Murdoch, he said hello first.

"Tekken King, long time no see."

Eric Murdoch was so emotional. His draft pick was only a few weeks behind him, but his current status difference cannot be described by the Pacific Ocean.

"Are you in good health?"

Zhou Quan asked after seeing that Murdoch had black knee pads on his left and right knees.

Murdoch smiled bitterly and shook his head: "It's not good. I'm mentally prepared to retire."

Zhou Quan patted Murdoch on the shoulder and comforted: "Don't be depressed, you have to remember that basketball is not everything to us."

"Yes." Murdock nodded.

At ten past eight, the starting lineup begins.

The away team goes first, then the home team.

This was Zhou Quan's first game in his new home stadium, and the stadium specially arranged a welcoming ceremony and fireworks.

"Iron Fist! Iron Fist! Iron Fist..."

When Zhou Quan made his final appearance, the entire Central Gymnasium was filled with the roar of 2 people like a tsunami, and grand fireworks also began to set off.

Zhou Quan stretched out his arms, touched hands with the fans on both sides of the tunnel, and jogged into the stadium.

On the side of the court, the management headed by Ballmer, teammates, and a large number of Seattle's celebrities and wealthy people lined up in two rows to hug and high-five Zhou Quan.

Zhou Jianguo, Zhou Ye, and Philip were also invited to the sidelines by Ballmer and stood at the front.

After greeting the fans again, Zhou Quan ran around the stadium and high-fived the fans.

When he came to the commentary box, he high-fived and hugged old acquaintances Henem Chrisman and Mike Jim.

Finally, he came to the middle of the court and took the microphone handed over by the host. At this time, the central stadium quickly fell silent.

He stared at the fans and turned around. There were many things he wanted to say, but when his words came to his mouth, he only condensed them into one sentence and said loudly: "Seattle, I'm back."

"Oh hoo!"

Countless fans stood up from their seats, raised their arms, and cheered heartily.

There were also many fans who made a gesture with their arms raised in the air and paid homage to Zhou Quan.

"I worship you, this is the return of the real king!" Zhang Lili said excitedly.

"For an athlete, the worship of fans is the highest honor." Xu Jicheng said excitedly.

(End of this chapter)