Jun 18, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (right) speaks as teammates Tony Parker (left) and Tim Duncan (center) listen during NBA championship celebrations at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has already voiced his opinions on feelings towards the Oakland Raiders moving into the San Antonio market following Mark Davis’ meeting with city officials, but now the city’s NBA team and the 2014 NBA Finals champion Spurs have weighed in on the topic of the NFL coming into their market.
Unsurprisingly, ProFootballTalk is reporting that the Spurs would prefer the NFL staying out of a media market dominated by the Spurs dynasty. Something that has led to the Spurs becoming a quite successful franchise, the biggest part of the NFL having interest in the market in the first place.
From PFT:
"At a time when most believe talk of moving the Raiders to San Antonio is part of a leverage game, the NBA team that resides there isn’t prepared to play along.According to Tom Orsborn and Josh Baugh of the San Antonio Express-News, the San Antonio Spurs would oppose a Raiders move due to concerns that the long-term financial health of the basketball franchise would be undermine by competition in the market for revenue streams like sponsorships, suite rentals, and ticket sales.The Spurs would have no objection to the move if the group that owns the Spurs would also own a controlling interest in the Raiders. The goal would be to manage the two franchises under the same umbrella, with the goal of spreading to the Raiders the true commitment to excellence that the Spurs have demonstrated over the last generation.The Spurs’ decision to push back could be interpreted as a sign that they take the possible move seriously. Or maybe the Spurs simply want to send a message to anyone else who would consider moving to town."
It is strange to see the Spurs concerned over the presence of the NBA, after all franchises do quite well in places with NFL markets if they are successful franchise and there still are 33 more home games in the NBA than there is in the NFL. Regardless, the Spurs are happy being the only ticket in town, something that could change with the city becoming more involved with talks as a potential future place of an NFL home.