The Pistons' attendance has slumped during the recession, as has the attendance of many teams, and because they rely so heavily on the beleaguered auto industry, the team's season-ticket, suite and sponsorship sales have suffered disproportionately.
Points can be redeemed for merchandise, tickets, suites and several in-game experiences, such as visiting the broadcast booth or holding the finish line for the Presidents Race.
Home playoff games would not only generate a few more million dollars to help pay for the work, but would also give the Garden's salesmen more ammunition to sell season tickets, suites and advertising for next season.
Despite nearly two decades of losing, the Knicks command premium prices for tickets, suites and sponsorships.
The win helped the Pats push up pricing on tickets, suites and sponsorships.
Since the economic collapse in 2008, many corporations have cut back on buying corporate suites and premium seats at N.H.L. arenas, where they can account for more than 40 percent of ticket and suite revenue.
It's coming from ticket sales, suite sales and broadcasting rights.
Brett Yormark, the chief executive of the Nets and Barclays Center, now oversees ticket sales, suite sales, sponsorships and marketing for the Islanders.
In January, when the Yankees issued $258.9 million in tax-exempt bonds, they estimated that ticket and suite revenue in the 2009 season would be $331.5 million, based on attendance of 3 million.
The stadium deal left the city of Miami and the county to pay three-quarters of the reported $645 million price of the stadium and surrounding parking lots, the team alone would take any revenue produced through ticket and suite sales, concessions, advertising and any future naming rights.
That's still tiny compared with the $2.2 billion in ticket and suite revenue and the $1.3 billion for television.
