Adhering to all NBA and government guidelines, the Pelicans are trying to bring a sense of normalcy to the city by increasing the attendance capacity in the Smoothie King Center. The New Orleans Pelicans game against the Detriot Pistons on Wednesday, February 24 was the first after the attendance capacity was raised to 2,700 fans. The move may not create the kind of deafening atmosphere after a Zion Williamson dunk that Stan Van Gundy notices but it will help stimulate the local economy by providing a safe entertainment option. It could also boost team revenue for the season by $20-40 million potentially.
There was a makeshift Mardi Gras in City Park named Floats in the Oaks but the global block party in the Crescent City was canceled this year. Bars were closed and Bourbon Street was a ghost town. Pelicans attendance to start the season was very limited and ticket prices were several hundred dollars. Now with the increase in available tickets, prices for single-game tickets listed on Stubhub are $15-30. An increase in affordable tickets means more disposable income gets spread around to local businesses.
If the total lot of newly available tickets is sold just at the lower price points that is an extra $500,000 per game back to the team before those fans buy food, beverages, and merchandise in the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans have 20 home games remaining in the regular season. Considering the team has plans “to increase capacity just beyond 4,000” this could be a $20-40 million dollar decision for the team’s budget and the city’s tax receipts. Furthermore, those extra fans will have the employees of the expanded concourse services busier than they have been in over a year which helps their paychecks.
Indeed, the move to increase attendance arguably benefits the fans and Smoothie King Center employees more than the team on the court. Van Gundy commented the day after beating Detroit at home, “I think our players like having fans there. I don’t think there is any doubt. I haven’t noticed it I have to be honest. I just haven’t. You know I don’t know that I ever do unless you’re in a place that is absolutely packed and going crazy and it’s hard to hear everything else is when I really notice it on the side.”
Van Gundy should be able to map out clipboard plans without much yelling over the crowd under these attendance guidelines. The Pelicans mapped out the attendance plans “following the same health and safety procedures that earned the New Orleans Saints the best overall safety and security procedures in the NFL in 2020, the Pelicans remain in constant communication with city and state public health officials, Ochsner Health and the NBA regarding the importance of adhering to health and safety measures while the team increases the seating capacity. The health and safety of fans, players, coaches and staff will always be the organization’s first priority. In accordance with local and state government officials and public health experts, the Pelicans will continue to follow the best practices and protocols that will allow fans a safe and enjoyable experience at the Smoothie King Center.”
As the Pelicans fight for a playoff spot, the team has a plan to “be determined in conjunction with city and state officials and will represent the most allowed currently by CDC requirements. The Pelicans organization will continue to implement the same health and safety measures that have earned high ratings from consumer surveys on overall safety and adherence to health and safety protocols developed along with NBA arena protocols which includes health screenings, wearing face coverings, physical distancing, pod seating and contactless accommodations.”
The New Orleans Pelicans are playing encouraging basketball. Van Gundy has admitted the team lacked practice time to start the season but things are starting to come together for the young squad. With seven players 25 or younger, they are battling for position in the playoff play-in series and only four games back of San Antonio in the sixth seed. Going into March, more Pelicans fans can congregate at the Smoothie King Center knowing they are helping the city as well as the team in one of the safest ways possible during the pandemic.
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February 27, 2021 at 03:57AM
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New Orleans Pelicans Increasing Smoothie King Center Attendance Capacity Helps Local Economy - Forbes
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