By Sean Brace
Twenty-eight out of 30.
That is where the 76ers stand in attendance throughout the NBA this year. An absolute shame. You would think that after signing one of the biggest free agents during the off-season in Elton Brand, and re-signing Andre Iguodala and crowd favorite Louuuuu Williams, the Philadelphia faithful would be storming through the Wachovia gates. But in the words of my man Lee Corso, not so fast my friend.
It isn't really a shock to me that the Sixers are struggling again in attendance this year because, as I have been saying for a few years now, the Wachovia Center is one of the worst venues to watch a professional team play. There are many reasons why but the top culprit is public address announcer, Matt Cord. He is in charge of music during the game and while the teams are in time-outs - the most important time to get the crowd going.
Now the NBA is a different monster when it comes to being the P.A. for any team. These days in most home arenas you can't go a possession without hearing some sort of base-filled rap song jamming out of every speaker in the rafters. I'm pretty sure that is not the way to go. Some teams have their home court advantage led by their P.A. announcer, such as the man in Detroit, John Mason, who revolutionized the position with such favorites like BaBaBa-Ben Wallace!. How about when the Boston Celtics are winning and they have Gino dancing? Who even knows what that means, but it works. The key is, you must keep it simple but original at the same time. Like I said, most teams have nothing but hip-hop playing. Well, maybe we should experiment with the good old days of rock music, bring back the arena favorites: ACDC, Bon-Jovi, Guns and Roses. You know the good stuff. Think indoor Lacrosse but better. How about the cheerleaders just come into the stands and hang out. Maybe they buy you a beer? A true guys night out.
And I never really got the rabbit.
Truthfully the Sixers need to get minor league with it and start coming up with some crazy events. I mean this is Philadelphia, we do have some of the craziest people in the world. How about a Mixed Martial Art fight at halftime? Kimbo Slice needs work. Pull a lucky fan out of the crowd and lets get it on!
Twenty-eight out of 30.
That is where the 76ers stand in attendance throughout the NBA this year. An absolute shame. You would think that after signing one of the biggest free agents during the off-season in Elton Brand, and re-signing Andre Iguodala and crowd favorite Louuuuu Williams, the Philadelphia faithful would be storming through the Wachovia gates. But in the words of my man Lee Corso, not so fast my friend.
It isn't really a shock to me that the Sixers are struggling again in attendance this year because, as I have been saying for a few years now, the Wachovia Center is one of the worst venues to watch a professional team play. There are many reasons why but the top culprit is public address announcer, Matt Cord. He is in charge of music during the game and while the teams are in time-outs - the most important time to get the crowd going.
Now the NBA is a different monster when it comes to being the P.A. for any team. These days in most home arenas you can't go a possession without hearing some sort of base-filled rap song jamming out of every speaker in the rafters. I'm pretty sure that is not the way to go. Some teams have their home court advantage led by their P.A. announcer, such as the man in Detroit, John Mason, who revolutionized the position with such favorites like BaBaBa-Ben Wallace!. How about when the Boston Celtics are winning and they have Gino dancing? Who even knows what that means, but it works. The key is, you must keep it simple but original at the same time. Like I said, most teams have nothing but hip-hop playing. Well, maybe we should experiment with the good old days of rock music, bring back the arena favorites: ACDC, Bon-Jovi, Guns and Roses. You know the good stuff. Think indoor Lacrosse but better. How about the cheerleaders just come into the stands and hang out. Maybe they buy you a beer? A true guys night out.
And I never really got the rabbit.
Truthfully the Sixers need to get minor league with it and start coming up with some crazy events. I mean this is Philadelphia, we do have some of the craziest people in the world. How about a Mixed Martial Art fight at halftime? Kimbo Slice needs work. Pull a lucky fan out of the crowd and lets get it on!
The 76ers should treat this like getting rid of a head coach and his staff and just scrap the whole entertainment personnel. I hate to be the man to suggest that but its like any other job. You are there to make the Sixers home games a can't-miss event and right now, they are giving tickets away for 10$ to watch a quality product, and people still aren't showing. Maybe Ed Snider should go to LA and bring home the most talented Laker girl. While he's at it maybe he could swing by Detroit and see if John Mason could share some pointers about what music and sound effects he uses. To me its pretty easy, crowds want to be entertained, and as an entertainer you either have it or you don't. Clearly Matt Cord and the whole Philadelphia 76ers gamenight experience, don't.
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