[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

There’s all this talk about ‘Bron needing to go to NY to get MORE exposure, and I’m just not sure if that’s entirely true… I’m not completely against the judgment that going to a bigger market would make a significant impact, but I’m just not sure I really believe that in this day in age….

Consider a quote from Magic GM Otis Smith: ‘I think the day and time is gone where you have to relocate to be a big star. We have a global economy now. You don’t have to move to L.A. to market yourself.’

I agree with that to a certain extent… Can someone come up with substantial evidence as to what LBJ gains by going to a place like NY?

I don’t see the Knicks on National TV all that often- but I do see the Cavs on TV. National TV games follow Bron, not the market.

Going to the Knicks is not going to affect Bron’s biggest endorsement deal, which I’d assume is with Nike- he’s already locked into that deal. And do we really believe that Bron doesn’t do all the endorsements/ads he wants already? Is going to NY really going to open up that many more doors? And even if there are more doors open, do they really make that much of a difference? None of those potential deals is going to pay him anything close to what Nike or another large corporation is already paying him.

I’m not entirely convinced the bigger markets are irrelevant, because they definitely make a difference, but I guess the question is, how much of a difference do they really make?

[Chicago1980Participant]

I dont think these days it matters what city you’re in because if you’re good you are gonna play on TV like you said he plays in cleveland and the cavs were on national tv way more than the knicks. I think that he will make more money in the long run in cleveland because NY has high taxes he will be paying way more out there if he were to go to NY.

[GoodbyeChandlerParticipant]

yeah thats true. i dont think the bigger market in NY will make lbj more famous worldwide, just in NY. ppl already know who he is and NY does have some high taxes.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

I will say that the Knicks/Yanks/Mets/Giants/Jets are on Sportscenter more than other teams, but the same can be said for LBJ… whenever he does anything it’s a headline

[QHaynes20]

I was gonna do a LBJ topic but to me

Most players want to atleast have a couple seasons in a big market. I mean there are only 9 big market teams

NY
Miami
Orlando
Lakers
Clippers
Bulls
Dallas
Houston
San Antonio

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I always tend to think of Detroit, Phoenix, Philly and Atlanta as having big markets as well.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

Most players want to atleast have a couple seasons in a big market~ based on what?

I don’t think I’d count SA or Orlando as big market cities….

[QHaynes20]

They are because when they have cap space. Texas and Florida state taxes allow them to be a player in FA.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

I don’t think that’s what Big Market refers to… to me, it’s talking about having more fans… and more people in the area to market to…

[QHaynes20]

To me, A big market is a team that can attract FA’s

[McWinningParticipant]

sure it helps but players like Roy, and Durant just signed deals with Nike for commercialsand there in small market teams.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

alrighty, well just so u know, when most ppl refer to a big market, I think they’re talking about potential fans, which is why Otis Smith was talking about Dwight playing in a small market (orlando) and how that isn’t that much of a disadvantage rather than playing a big market (like LA)…

[QHaynes20]

well, Orlando with cap space can attract FA. Thats how you got Rashard Lewis-Hedo.

Durant and Roy are superstars in small markets.

[Chicago1980Participant]

Big Market Refers to the big cities that get the most coverage like LA, NY, Chicago cities like those small market teams are teams that dont get as much publicity and dont spend much money to bring personnel in.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

Well that’s kind of irrelevant then…. lol i’m just wondering about what NY’s (or any other) big market is really going to get LBJ… he already does any endorsement deal he wants. He’s already on Sportscenter and National TV like every week. What more can he get in NY?

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

Chicago- and why do they get the most coverage? because they have the most ppl who care about those teams (cuz they have the most people living in those areas)… right? Orlando and SA might be big markets if there weren’t other teams in FL and TX, but there are

[Chicago1980Participant]

It really makes no sense to me but that is true texas and florida do have a lot of teams in and around the same area I really dont understand the concept of big market teams and small market teams because if you look at it the clippers are in LA and they dont get no coverage and nobody really wants to play there.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

it’s all about revenues… and that’s related to the number of ppl that are following the team. I have no idea how many ppl are in LA, but just say that there are 20 million in LA and 3 million in Minneapolis… even if 1 in 10 ppl in LA are fans of the clips (2 mill), they still have more fans that if 1 in 2 in MPLS are fans of the twolves (1.5 mill)

It’s all about how many people are watching the games (for ad revenues), how many people there are demanding tickets, jerseys, apparel, merchandise…. the more ppl there are, the more money that comes in!

[Chicago1980Participant]

that is an excellent point because if you look at it I can guarantee more people are gonna watch a lakers game than a kings game and the jersey sales for a big market team like the lakers are gonna be more than that of the grizzlies and i am not a lakers fan i hate them just using them to make a point.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

it’s also partially related to how much money ppl make, I believe… because someone in LA can afford to pay more for a ticket (because presumably they make more) than someone who lives in OKC.

[llperez]

this might not facor in with Lebron, but I know for a fact that many endorsement contracts have stipulations that vary depneding on the city the player plays in. For instance, Edddie Jones complained that he lost 15% of his nike deal after being traded from LA to Charlotte because it was part of his contract that a big market like LA meant a big raise in his endorsement deal. I believe this is pretty much standard procedure, although Lebron might be an exception.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

hmmm i had never heard of that…. thanks. i wonder if that’s true, cuz then that could make a big difference to LBJ.

[bkballerParticipant]

I heard Lebron also has clauses in his contract with nike….on of which inlcudes if he signs for the MLE in a big market, they cover the difference from the max contract. It is true that Lebron is not going to get MUCH more famous in a larger market as of now, however playing in a larger market helps a player’s legacy. A player like Patrick Ewing would have been forgotten off by now in a smaller market and for example a player like chris paul would be so much more famous had he played in a big market. But i agree LBJ is one of the few players in sports who really doesn’t benefit that much from playing in a large city, however dwight howard would benefit a lot.

[blazerheadfreak2.0]

Chris Paul u mean Brandon Roy enuff people dont kno about him and lebron is lebron he is his own market i dont see him leave for a sh!tty team like the knicks anyways

[SpencerIsHawesome]

excellent post badger, couldn’t have said it better myself. One reply I got when I said something similar was that lebron’s face will be all-over times square which I guess is a plus but he’s Lebron he could go anywhere, even minnesota or golden state two of the most irrelevent teams in the league and be absolutely huge.

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