As we reported yesterday, NBA Comissioner David Stern has cancelled the first two weeks of the NBA season. While this affects the San Antonio Spurs and fans, it also greatly affects local businesses.
At least through the first two weeks of November, San Antonio sportsbars are likely to see a drop in revenue compared to last year’s numbers.
Reuters reporter Jim Forsyth talked to local business owners who described the NBA lockout as “frustrating.”
“It is a little frustrating,” said Kim Krieg, who operates a sports bar that relies on games of the hometown San Antonio Spurs for many of its promotions.
“They are arguing over millions of dollars, and out here we are all still struggling.”
Aside from business owners, game-night crews and several people that make their living off the team lose most.
She is one of the estimated 4,000 people in San Antonio, from ticket brokers to people who park the cars at the AT&T Center, who make their living partially — or in some cases entirely — from the basketball team.
“Some studies show there won’t be much of an impact, but try telling that to the owners of the restaurants, the bars, the food service people, not to mention the people who work at the events.”
While several players are joining international teams to make up for their lost wages in the lockout, and the owners don’t appear to be wiling to budge on several key issues, the people with the most to lose seem to be an afterthought in all of the labor negotiations.
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