The myth of market size

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2011/03/nba-market-size-numbers-game/

We have heard so often how difficult it is for Minnesota teams to compete because we are in a small market. Unfortunately, the inconvenient truth is that our market is larger than that of all four NBA teams still playing in the post-season. The accompanying market rankings is 3 years old, but things haven't changed much. It shows MSP as the 15th biggest market, Miami as the 16th, Indy as the 27th and San Antonio and OkC as 3rd and 4th smallest markets in the NBA. In fact, the two Western conference finalist teams' markets added together are still smaller than our market. And yet here they are in the finals. Bad news also for conspiracy theorists who postulate that the NBA does everything it can to get its big markets into the finals. Clearly market size lags far behind other factors (drafting, coaching, shrewd analysis of the free agent market and salary cap management, and willingness of owner to pay luxury tax) in determining success.

[Porckchop]

What does smaller market mean tho? Population only? The Wolves r competeting agaimst themselves. The Vikes, Wild , college hockey and wrestling are all of more importance than the Wolves are. I dont know much about San Anton, Indiana and Okcs situations in those sports but thats alot to compete with when theyre all more succesful on a consistent basis. Dare I even say the Twins? The fan base needs to sniff a winner more than every decade or so to stay interested. To me that makes the market.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

What does smaller market mean tho? Population only? The Wolves r competeting agaimst themselves. The Vikes, Wild , college hockey and wrestling are all of more importance than the Wolves are. I dont know much about San Anton, Indiana and Okcs situations in those sports but thats alot to compete with when theyre all more succesful on a consistent basis. Dare I even say the Twins? The fan base needs to sniff a winner more than every decade or so to stay interested. To me that makes the market.

Since the big money in sports is in the TV contracts, market size is most commonly measured by number of TV sets in a team's geographic area...that's what this list uses. And that's why NY teams always seem to have unlimited financial resources...because there are so many TV sets tuned in to their teams. I'm driving down to San Diego tomorrow to catch the Twins. San Diego is a big city , but still clearly qualifies as a small market because there just isn't any TV market once you get out of the metro area (desert to the east, Mexico to the south, ocean to the west, and LA to the north).

[Porckchop]

Does any of that change the fact that players have better money making opportunities on the east and west coast. Areas that market their best players on a worldwide scale?

[bleedspeed]

How so? Kevin Love will lose money period leaving here. If he goes to a true contender he becomes Chris Bosh. He won't get the national ads he gets now. Does being in MN hurt Adrian Peterson and Joe Mauer?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

How so? Kevin Love will lose money period leaving here. If he goes to a true contender he becomes Chris Bosh. He won't get the national ads he gets now. Does being in MN hurt Adrian Peterson and Joe Mauer?

Yeah, gotta agree with bleed. Playing for a big market coast team doesn't translate into endorsements, as evidenced by the big endorsement dough Kevin is already getting. More important than location is 1) an attractive marketable style, 2) an aggressive agent and 3) being "the man" on your team. Kevin Garnett lacked factor 1 and also was no longer "the man" when he moved to big market Boston. How many endorsements did he end up with? Conversely, Kevin Durant has as many commercials as anyone, and he's stuck in OkC. Love is better off in Minnesota.

[mjs34]

It isn't market size that causes the problem for the wolves. It's the climate here in Minny. It doesn't hurt the wild because most hockey players grow up in similar climates. BB players, not so much. As much as players want to win, when you have a FA and he can go to two different teams and make the same money and both are fringe PO teams, he is going to pick the warmer climate. Why do you think the WC as a whole has become the dominant conference.

Our piss poor management has certainly contributed to the situation though.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

It isn't market size that causes the problem for the wolves. It's the climate here in Minny. It doesn't hurt the wild because most hockey players grow up in similar climates. BB players, not so much. As much as players want to win, when you have a FA and he can go to two different teams and make the same money and both are fringe PO teams, he is going to pick the warmer climate. Why do you think the WC as a whole has become the dominant conference.

Our piss poor management has certainly contributed to the situation though.

Jeez, I don't want to believe that degrees on a thermometer are a driving force for NBA players, but you make a solid point about the reason for Western dominance. I'm a Minnesota native who has been in LA for the past three years, and I would move back to Minny in a heartbeat if I could. The climate here is unbelievable, but it doesn't come close to making up for all the other advantages of Minnesota. But I suspect you're right, and that clinate is a factor for many NBA players.

[Porckchop]

If AD and Mauer played in New York or LA their endorsements would be much greater. Imagine when Mauer was worth a shit and the Yankees were interested. You dont think his earning power was greater there?

[horatio81 [enjin:7751176]]

Or you could read between the lines and realize that "small market" is another (if inaccurate) term to describe the phenomena of players not wanting to come here. It doesn't really matter precisely why they don't want to come here. Fact is: they don't. Could be cold weather. Could be perception. Could be market size or marketing opportunities. Doesn't matter the specifics. All that matters is this team, with a blank slate, can't bring in quality free agents.