The King has made his presence felt without stepping foot on the court. Ticket prices skyrocket as the news about LeBron James causes financial chaos.
LeBron James is already changing the lives of many in Philadelphia.
No, not on the basketball court yet, but in the stadium and surrounding areas. Once James elected to go to the Philadelphia 76ers, ticket prices and jersey sales went through the roof.
NBA champion Iman Shumpert believes the “LeBron Effect” will improve the day-to-day lives of people working in the stadium.
“Dear everybody in Philly, everybody about to make money.” Shumpert said on the “Big Podcast” with Shaquille O'Neal. “More people hired at the arena; they're going to need more security; businesses are about to be booming.”
This seems to be the common theme for wherever James goes. This could also impact the restaurant business with floods of people wanting to get in to watch a 76ers game. This could be what the city needs. Something that can help the hospitality and customer service business in a world that is so tech-reliant. It could increase human interaction and help the financial state of all those around.
There are sure to be sold-out games, and there will be plenty who will travel far to see 'The King' and 'The Process' in action. Which means hotels will have their hands full and may upcharge depending on the significance of the game.
Let’s face it, no one benefits more than the NBA. James going to Philadelphia is important, as it’s one of the league's major cities in terms of revenue. It’s a big part of the reason that they have 34 nationally televised games. A starting lineup of Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, James, and Joel Embiid will be one of the most exciting to watch in recent memory.
Now the downside to all of this is if the team starts losing, you’re going to hear murmurs within the city that can impact the money. Everyone knows the city of Philadelphia wears their heart on their sleeve when it comes to their sports. If the team has a rough start, you’ll hear the boos echo throughout the entire city.
This would be nothing new to LeBron, as living in the city of Los Angeles bared the same kind of weight. LA was a city that demanded excellence, and the same applies here.
James may be the catalyst for an NBA team, but his influence for a city may be a bigger impact than anything he’s done on the court.
