More on the Bobcats and the new arena’s impact on biz Uptown, along with an interesting rationale for the entire operation:
“The No. 1 reason we supported the arena was not necessarily the direct impact of NBA games,” says Mohammad Jenatian, president of the Greater Charlotte Hospitality & Tourism Alliance, a lobbying group. “It was to keep the Charlotte name out there on TV and in newspapers across the country, which is what an NBA franchise can do. That helps you with convention recruiting and name awareness.”
I see. The arena and the team are a loss-leader for convention biz, then. Convention biz that every city is trying to land for its publically-run convention center. Presumbly the NASCAR Hall of Fame would be the same thing as well. The concept of good money after bad never really comes up much Uptown, now does it?
Anyway, my personal measure of the arena will include how much it costs to go a Checkers game. Last year the family pack deal got you four tix, four drinks, and four hot dogs for $44 at the Old (Old) Coliseum. Plus $5 to park, I think. Toss in a couple beers and some cotton candy (not together) and that’s about $60 for the evening. Can’t beat that.
Update: The Family 4 Pack seems to gone to the great promotion land in the sky. Nothing like to be had on the new, new Checkers tix site.
