It’s 2023. Business strategies are based on growth and the monetization of growth now. The olden business strategy of exclusivity, lifestyle branding or whatever this nickel dime monetization cable companies are based on, don’t work because of the wide accessibility of content with the internet. The game changed from monetizing the local fans, to how to cast as wide of a net as possible because that is the current effective strategy.

Their ineptitude is so clear: there aren’t any reasons for blackout games today. You want folks to watch the bumfucknowhere team if they can. Then you can sell them merchandise which was previously not as feasible. For example, this is how the NBA is popular in China: folks there can buy NBA merch. You want locals or non-locals to tune in for free and then watch the ads from partners of the NBA also.

The Kings are apparently an exception within California

If Ballmer memes his stadium, I’d visit to check it out!

The difference between owning and renting is the risk and profitability is on the city for making the break even. The OKC owner understands that and it’s less appealing if the owner doesn’t find real profitability in ownership of a big real estate purchase. Easier to toss it over to the city and then spend a few hundred thousand on propaganda so the OKC fans can eat that up.

If it’s such a great deal, why isn’t the owner ponying up like Ballmer is? Either one of the two is true: the owner is sleighting the city for frugal reasons or OKC is too small of a town to really invest in.

Seattle didn’t want to bootlick so the owner found some folks who would.

Do it! Vegas is a far more lucrative city than OKC.

California doesn’t allow for cities to pay I think. But yeah, Chase center is all the owners. I am exceptionally interested to see how Ballmer designs the Clippers stadium.