Los Angeles Clippers: 5 Ways To Increase Fan Support in The City Of Angels
In Los Angeles, you can find people who care (or at least pretend to care) about almost anything. There's a music scene, a theatre scene, a trendy scene, a hipster scene, a yuppie scene, an emo scene. Hell, there's even still a Raider scene.
But it's nearly impossible to find a Clipper scene, even at their games. Among high schoolers, the Clippers are less popular than homework.
Don't get me wrong, there are Clipper fans out there. They're just hard to find. They're generally embarrassed, hiding, and/or in denial.
The few openly proud Clipper fans are worthy of respect but typically insane. They definitely don't convince others to join the ranks of the Red and Blue Horde.
So how can the Clips increase fan support? The Clippers now boast more talent than they've had in years, but with the back-to-back champion Lakers in town, winning games is simply not enough.
Here are 5 things the Clippers can do to draw new fans:
Start A Grassroots Movement
1 of 5
Not only have the Clippers been so bad for so long, but owner Donald T. Sterling has also attained the reputation of being feckless and excessively cheap. The organization has barely seemed to care about the fans, so Los Angeles natives feel almost no emotional connection to the team.
So go directly to the people. Make a connection. Give us a reason to care. Start a grassroots movement.
I'm talking elementary school clinics, high school assembly dunk contests, Venice Beach pickup games. Don't just preach to us from TV commercials and billboards; talk to us in person. Look me in the eye and tell me why I should come to watch you play.
I can already foresee the difficulties in accomplishing this. Perhaps all those highly paid divas don't want to waste their precious time courting us plebeians.
But maybe, just maybe, they would be down to do this. Maybe they want to be loved the way the Lakers are. Maybe they want to pack the stands for all their games. Maybe they want to change the culture in LA.
Play a More Exciting Style of Ball
2 of 5
The recent editions of the Clippers have not been very fun to watch. The basketball has been less than average and unexciting.
The stats even prove that this assertion is objectively correct. Last year, the Clips were 16th in Pace Factor, which basically measures tempo of play, and 27th in Offensive Efficiency. They clearly didn't play quickly or effectively.
In my humble opinion, if you're going to be unsuccessful, at least do it in an entertaining way. Take the up-and-down, fist-to-head-bumping team of Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson. Not notably more successful. Way more fun to watch.
I would much rather see the Clippers fly around the court and jack up tons of threes, a la Nelly's Golden State Warriors, than play the brand of ball we've been getting.
Regarding this year's team, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, and Baron Davis would thrive in a fast-paced offense. However, it's tough to play an uptempo style when your best offensive weapon is a plodding post player, Chris Kaman.
Which leads me to contention number 3...
Trade Chris Kaman
3 of 5
For a very solid player, center Chris Kaman is a fan-repellent. He reminds me of a history textbook, useful but extremely boring. He gives you a steady diet of jump hooks and clever finishes around the rim, but I would rather watch paint dry than Kaman play. As the longest tenured Clipper, he's a central figure on this team, which doesn't bode well for fan support.
Furthermore, my mom thinks he's the least attractive player in the NBA.
He has a lot of trade value, being a relatively young legitimate center with a diverse offensive game, and he could be a huge boon to a rising contender. But only as a supporting player.
The Clippers should trade Kaman for guys who fit my proposed run and gun style. That would make the team eminently much more watchable and potentially more successful.
Give Away Tickets
4 of 5
Obviously, they can't just give away tickets for free, can they? Can they?
Fine, let's say they can't. But how about ticket deals.
Buy one, get one half off? Three games for the price of two? A free gift - something actually worthwhile, not just a bobblehead - for every new ticket buyer?
To be honest, they might already have deals. If they do, then they surely don't advertise them well enough.
Once I get to a game, maybe your play can convince me to come again (or at least to watch on TV).
Win More Games
5 of 5
I mentioned earlier that winning games alone is not enough.
But winning is an essential piece of the puzzle. Nobody wants to root for a bunch of losers, especially new fans.
The Clippers might have the talent (and hopefully now the coaching) to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and only the second time in the past 13 years.
It's time to play.
