Iverson's Return Helps Boost 76ers Ticket Sales

Soon after the 76ers yesterday announced the signing of G Allen Iverson, "lines formed at the box office" at Wachovia Center and the "calls flooded into the sales office," according to Mark Kram of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. Iverson, who played for the 76ers from '96-'06, will make his return to the court next Monday against the Nuggets. The game is "not yet sold out, but it is getting there." The 76ers play two other home games next week, and the team said it is "filling tickets at a pretty quick pace for all of the games."

76ers Senior VP/Business Operations Lara Price: "It's been amazing. I don't have specific numbers yet (on volume) because it's just been so crazy." In addition, visits to the 76ers' Web site "tripled from a week ago." Iverson's No. 3 jersey will be on sale at Wachovia Center in time for Monday's game. Sports marketing execs said that "it is expected that Iverson would stimulate a renewed interest in the team," which has a 5-14 record and is averaging only 11,965 fans per game, second fewest in the NBA. But the marketing execs agreed that the team will "have to win again to sustain that fan interest." Temple Univ. sports marketing professor Joe Mahan: "You will see a spike early in jersey sales, especially as we come into the holiday season. But if he or the team continues to struggle people will begin to sour on this notion of having him back" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 12/3).

Comcast-Spectacor President & COO Peter Luukko yesterday said, "What I didn't expect today was the overwhelming response from the fans. The fans were so positive and there were relatively few negative calls and they are buying tickets." Price said that "more tickets were sold yesterday than on Oct. 10, the day the team put individual tickets on sale for the entire season" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/3). Reebok Saturday is re-releasing Iverson's 76ers-themed shoe, and most Philadelphia-area stores "expect his No. 3 jersey to be ready for sale Monday" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/3).

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