For the last few decades, Tiger athletics have been the only game in town.
However, that could change as the NBA’s Board of Governors is set to officially approve the Vancouver Grizzlies’ move to Memphis. While the Grizzlies will compete for glory and fame on the court, the Tigers will be competing for media coverage as well as entertainment dollars.
“There is a negative impact there that we have seen in media coverage,” said Doug Sweeny, director of sales and ticket operations for the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. “There is just no two ways about it. There is only so much space in a newspaper, but if we have the kind of success we want to have, (the media) will write about us anyway.”
Sweeny is experienced in working at a program that competes against professional teams for media coverage and fan support. Charlotte is the home of the NBA’s Hornets, the NFL’s Panthers and the National Hockey League’s Hurricanes.
“What happened here is that the front page became more competitive,” said Mike Persinger, sports editor for the Charlotte Observer. “What that has meant is not necessarily less coverage for UNCC. It means that the stories have to be better to justify the front page.
If one of the five best stories I have is about UNCC, it will go on the front page. If it’s not one of the best stories, it is not going on my front page.”
According to the managing editor of The Commercial Appeal, Henry Stokes, coverage of U of M athletics will not change when the Grizzlies arrive.
“We fully intend to cover The University as we have in the past,” Stokes said.
However, Rod Williamson, said coverage will change.
“We used to be the number one story in town,” said Williamson, associate athletic director for communications at Vanderbilt University. “We are no longer the number one story. Anything the Titans do becomes front page news.”
According to Williamson, sports like track and field, golf and women’s tennis are ones that suffer the most. Those sports get pushed aside by pro-related news stories such as trades and injury reports.
Williamson also expressed concern over the corporate support Vanderbilt receives now that they are competing with the professional teams for purchases of season tickets and luxury boxes. Williamson said some companies and individuals have been reluctant to purchase suites or luxury boxes for Vanderbilt athletics after spending money to purchase the lavish suites offered by the NFL and NHL.
“(The Panthers) took a dent out of some of the money fans may have spent with (UNCC) on sponsorships or tickets,” said Dan Devos, marketing director for UNCC athletics. “If (pro teams) weren’t here, we would have more individuals buying tickets because we would be the only game in town.”
U of M associate athletic director for advancement, Kevin Grothe, said that has not become a problem for The University yet.”I have not had one customer call us to date and say that they are not making a contribution because the NBA is coming,”Grothe said. Grothe said he expects to break last year’s record of $3.15 million in donations to Tiger clubs.
“Now, the key is can we maintain that? Every team in every program goes through cycles,” Grothe said. “What happens when we are in a cycle where we are down and (the Grizzlies) are up? Those are the times you fear the most.”
“I think both programs can co-exist in Memphis like they have in Charlotte, especially with all the excitement Calipari has created down there,” Devos said. “Ultimately fans are very fickle. They will want a winner and the novelty of a new arena and new team will wear off in a couple of years if the team is not producing on the court.”
“When we do go head to head with the Hornets, it is tough because some of our season ticket holders may be Hornets season ticket holders, and they may be forced to make a decision,” Sweeny said.
For example, this season UNCC hosted Louisville on the same night the Hornets hosted the Los Angeles Lakers.
“The Louisville game was always a great draw for us, but not when the Lakers are in town,” Sweeny said. “It was the smallest crowd ever for a Louisville game.”
“It’s a tough call,” Devos said. “Ultimately it depends on what happens on the court.”
