For this week’s reading I chose to read the article on the San Antonio Spurs and the Baseline Bums because the Spurs have been considered a model franchise with an intensely loyal fanbase for over 20 years now, so I was interested in reading about how the team and those fans got their start. One thing that jumped out to me was just how important the existence of Hemisfair Arena was to the team even coming to San Antonio. The article states, “However, the 10,146-seat HemisFair Arena arguably increased outsider’s awareness of the municipality more than the exposition itself. Without that structure in place, McCombs believed Spurs basketball never would have existed, as that site became home for the team for the next twenty years.” Obviously, infrastructure and facilities are vital parts of any franchise’s success in a city, but it’s not often that an owner flat out says that without the arena/stadium already existing, the team wouldn’t have come to town. I also thought it was interesting that the rise and fall of the Baseline Bums was also tied to Hemisfair Arena. The article makes this connection by stating, “Valle explained the Bums’ autonomy in HemisFair Arena afforded them the opportunity to agitate opponents, influence the outcome of games, and fraternize with the Spurs and their opponents, but with each change of venue that influence and those relationships dissipated.” The layout of the arena impacting fan groups isn’t something I’d thought about previously, but it speaks to a larger point about teams having to decide how much they value affordability and the fan experience versus maximizing profits with larger arenas, more expensive tickets, and luxury boxes. The last thing I found interesting was that the article stated that the antics and rowdy behavior of the Baseline Bums may deserve credit for the Spurs becoming the stable franchise they are today. The article states, “Without the Bums, their avid support, and their ability to make local, regional, and national headlines, the Spurs as a sustainable entity was far from certain and could explain why the organization often condoned such behavior.” Obviously, loyal fan support is a key part of any franchise’s sustainability, but I found it interesting that the kind of behavior the Bums were known for was viewed as a good thing for the Spurs rather than a problem, especially considering that poor behavior from fans is something that athletes and organizations criticize frequently today.
