Jam Version 2.0
Bakersfield was introduced Friday to the newest version of our NBA D-League team the Bakersfield Jam. Yes the same Jam who less than two months ago said they were closing up shop, came out today and said 'not so fast' we're going to try this again.
And in trying this again, launching a new version of the D-League team on the same day Apple Launched a new version of the Iphone, the Jam have downgraded instead of upgraded, but downgrading may be the ticket. After playing in the 10,000 seat Rabobank Arena in downtown Bakersfield for years and averaging less than 1,000 fans a game, the Jam have made the humbling yet important decision to move the team to their new 'practice' facility on Norris Road.
An impressive facility that houses a full-sized NBA court, it was originally intended to be a training venue for the Jam unlike any other in the D-League, now it will become the home to the Jam, unlike any other in the D-League. Complete with an estimated 1500 seats the venue will be much quainter, much more "jammed" (no pun intended) and much more in tune with the basketball fans in Bakersfield.
As team owner Stan Ellis put it "there are 1500 basketball fans in Bakersfield, there are not 9,000."
A statement that no less took a lot of humility to utter, but the truth about not only the D-League support in Bakersfield, but the D-League across the country. Gone is the assumption that just because a team is affiliated with the NBA, it will succeed. Matter of fact the NBA toured the Jam facility and liked it so much, the D-League is sending two more teams to Bakersfield to take the tour, hoping that others will adopt the "Smaller and Smarter" business model for minor league hoops.
Hats off to Stan Ellis and David Higdon for taking this bold step. They've abandoned the costly over sized arena for a much more intimate fan experience, and as we all know with less availability comes more demand. This could end up working out very well for the Jam and for hoops fans in general.
It takes a lot of business sense and humility to admit your mistakes and take a step back in order to move forward, but I think the Jam ownership has taken that first step with a positive feeling that Version 2.0 will in fact be better than the original.
And in trying this again, launching a new version of the D-League team on the same day Apple Launched a new version of the Iphone, the Jam have downgraded instead of upgraded, but downgrading may be the ticket. After playing in the 10,000 seat Rabobank Arena in downtown Bakersfield for years and averaging less than 1,000 fans a game, the Jam have made the humbling yet important decision to move the team to their new 'practice' facility on Norris Road.
An impressive facility that houses a full-sized NBA court, it was originally intended to be a training venue for the Jam unlike any other in the D-League, now it will become the home to the Jam, unlike any other in the D-League. Complete with an estimated 1500 seats the venue will be much quainter, much more "jammed" (no pun intended) and much more in tune with the basketball fans in Bakersfield.
As team owner Stan Ellis put it "there are 1500 basketball fans in Bakersfield, there are not 9,000."
A statement that no less took a lot of humility to utter, but the truth about not only the D-League support in Bakersfield, but the D-League across the country. Gone is the assumption that just because a team is affiliated with the NBA, it will succeed. Matter of fact the NBA toured the Jam facility and liked it so much, the D-League is sending two more teams to Bakersfield to take the tour, hoping that others will adopt the "Smaller and Smarter" business model for minor league hoops.
Hats off to Stan Ellis and David Higdon for taking this bold step. They've abandoned the costly over sized arena for a much more intimate fan experience, and as we all know with less availability comes more demand. This could end up working out very well for the Jam and for hoops fans in general.
It takes a lot of business sense and humility to admit your mistakes and take a step back in order to move forward, but I think the Jam ownership has taken that first step with a positive feeling that Version 2.0 will in fact be better than the original.
posted by Corey Costelloe at
1:06 PM
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