There’s no question Lin’s move to the Rockets hurts merchandise vendors in New York, who are cutting prices up to 75%. And perhaps the dip in MSG, Inc.’s stock value has something to do with the Nielsen ratings to which Knicks games will return
Before Lin’s breakout game in early February, MSG’s 19 games averaged a 1.83 rating; the next 36 games (including the last 17 that Lin sat out) averaged a 4.07.
With that kind of ratings bump, Lin may even benefit the Houston Astros, who have a significant stake along with the Rockets in Comcast Sports Net Houston, which airs some Rockets games. If you don’t have CSN Houston you can request it here.
Some vendors claim Lin merchandise won’t be as valuable with his move to the Rockets, but I disagree. I doubt Volvo and Nike are downtrodden, and I just don’t see how his being with the Knicks instead of another team has anything to do with these prices
The signed and framed 16×20 photo goes for $499.99, unsigned and framed for $99.99. By comparison, a framed photo of Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera TOGETHER with signed baseballs by each goes for $499.99.
A Jeremy Lin autographed basketball goes for $399.99. Jason Kidd’s goes for $99.99 and you don’t even get an autographed copy of the DUI he received this week after smashing his car into a telephone pole.
The vast majority of Lin’s fan base — both in US/Canada and globally — are fans of Lin either because of his ethnicity, his immense talent, or his incredible underdog story. They’ll follow Lin to whatever team he’s with and so will the media, both domestic and international. When Lin is back on the court at MSG, Jeff Yang knows who he’ll root for.
It will be a few weeks before preorder now.
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