The NBA is not under contract with T-Mobile Arena to host the NBA Cup championship next year and is underwhelmed by on-the-ground enthusiasm for the event in Las Vegas, according to league sources. The league has signed only one-year contracts with the venue for each of the tournament's three years.
Commissioner Adam Silver is scheduled to address media before Tuesday's NBA Cup final between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. The topic of the host site is expected to arise during his remarks.
The league announced in September that starting next year, semifinals will be held at home sites rather than in Las Vegas. Media partner Amazon Prime Video wants more compelling broadcasts generated by larger, more partisan home crowds.
The NBA and Prime Video remain committed to holding the championship game at a neutral site. They are discussing whether arenas could be fuller and louder at venues other than Las Vegas.
Word of the NBA's growing disappointment spread during and after Game 1 of Saturday's semifinals. An announced crowd of 16,697 watched the Knicks defeat the Orlando Magic, the smallest attendance for any Cup final four game to date.
Visibly vacant rows appeared in the upper deck with additional empty seats in the lower bowl. The second semifinal between San Antonio and Oklahoma City drew an announced sellout of 18,519 fans.
The NBA Cup itself is not in jeopardy despite the venue uncertainty. A significant portion of Prime Video's media rights package centers on the tournament, and it is included in the collective bargaining agreement.
The cost to make Prime Video whole without the Cup would be enormous. The tournament is expected to continue for at least the next 10 years regardless of location.
"You've got to give the NBA credit," Knicks coach Mike Brown said last week. "Everybody naturally fights change or wants to say something against change. I was one of those guys when they came up with the Cup idea, I was like, 'Oh, man, for what? In the middle of the season?' And as time goes on, you have to give — starting with Adam, you have to give him a lot of credit for being innovative."
Players receive $530,000 each for winning the tournament. TV viewership for Cup group stage games increased 90 percent this year in the tournament's first season on Prime Video.
Commissioner Adam Silver is scheduled to address media before Tuesday's NBA Cup final between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. The topic of the host site is expected to arise during his remarks.
The league announced in September that starting next year, semifinals will be held at home sites rather than in Las Vegas. Media partner Amazon Prime Video wants more compelling broadcasts generated by larger, more partisan home crowds.
The NBA and Prime Video remain committed to holding the championship game at a neutral site. They are discussing whether arenas could be fuller and louder at venues other than Las Vegas.
Word of the NBA's growing disappointment spread during and after Game 1 of Saturday's semifinals. An announced crowd of 16,697 watched the Knicks defeat the Orlando Magic, the smallest attendance for any Cup final four game to date.
Visibly vacant rows appeared in the upper deck with additional empty seats in the lower bowl. The second semifinal between San Antonio and Oklahoma City drew an announced sellout of 18,519 fans.
The NBA Cup itself is not in jeopardy despite the venue uncertainty. A significant portion of Prime Video's media rights package centers on the tournament, and it is included in the collective bargaining agreement.
The cost to make Prime Video whole without the Cup would be enormous. The tournament is expected to continue for at least the next 10 years regardless of location.
"You've got to give the NBA credit," Knicks coach Mike Brown said last week. "Everybody naturally fights change or wants to say something against change. I was one of those guys when they came up with the Cup idea, I was like, 'Oh, man, for what? In the middle of the season?' And as time goes on, you have to give — starting with Adam, you have to give him a lot of credit for being innovative."
Players receive $530,000 each for winning the tournament. TV viewership for Cup group stage games increased 90 percent this year in the tournament's first season on Prime Video.
about it and its over before Christmas. It aint got shyt to do with load management. Its an attempt to engage fans because most, even those calling themselves fans, dont actually like basketball.
