October 14, 2005 -- Cablevision's clan prince Jimmy Dolan is hoping for a comeback of its Rangers and Knicks teams that'll be as strong as the company's 37 percent surge in its stock price this year.
But ticket sales thus far for the two teams are mixed at best, insiders say, and fans are showing cynicism mixed with their curiosity.
"There's not the buzz you would expect," one industry source said of the season ticket sales for both clubs. "It's not bad, but it's definitely not hot, either."
What surprised many New York sports watchers was that the Knicks didn't get the big bounce that Dolan expected from signing up one of basketball's best coaches, Larry Brown, for $9 million yearly for four years.
Season sales for the Knicks home games were said to be flat at around 12,500 in the 19,000-seat Madison Square Garden, which had no comment on its box office action.
Meanwhile, the Rangers enjoyed a surprise sellout on Thursday for their first regular season game at the Garden since a year-long strike shut down the National Hockey League and rewrote the rules and economics of the game.
Season sales for the hockey club, however, didn't match last week's peaked curiosity in seeing the team play under new rules that force much more scoring than in the past.
Season sales for the Rangers pushed toward the 13,000 mark, sources say. The Garden hockey rink configuration holds 18,200 seats.
"The Rangers have a deep and loyal fan base," said sports consultant Sal Galatioto. "If the team performs well, the fans are passionate and they'll come back."
Madison Square Garden's box office produces only a small fraction of Cablevision's $5 billion revenue. The sports TV networks associated with the Garden offers a greater potential for value.
Cablevision shares rose 43 cents to $28.33 yesterday.
But ticket sales thus far for the two teams are mixed at best, insiders say, and fans are showing cynicism mixed with their curiosity.
"There's not the buzz you would expect," one industry source said of the season ticket sales for both clubs. "It's not bad, but it's definitely not hot, either."
What surprised many New York sports watchers was that the Knicks didn't get the big bounce that Dolan expected from signing up one of basketball's best coaches, Larry Brown, for $9 million yearly for four years.
Season sales for the Knicks home games were said to be flat at around 12,500 in the 19,000-seat Madison Square Garden, which had no comment on its box office action.
Meanwhile, the Rangers enjoyed a surprise sellout on Thursday for their first regular season game at the Garden since a year-long strike shut down the National Hockey League and rewrote the rules and economics of the game.
Season sales for the hockey club, however, didn't match last week's peaked curiosity in seeing the team play under new rules that force much more scoring than in the past.
Season sales for the Rangers pushed toward the 13,000 mark, sources say. The Garden hockey rink configuration holds 18,200 seats.
"The Rangers have a deep and loyal fan base," said sports consultant Sal Galatioto. "If the team performs well, the fans are passionate and they'll come back."
Madison Square Garden's box office produces only a small fraction of Cablevision's $5 billion revenue. The sports TV networks associated with the Garden offers a greater potential for value.
Cablevision shares rose 43 cents to $28.33 yesterday.
