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Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey and Astros CEO George Postolos on the growing success of Houston’s professional sports teams.
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-- -- Right -- -- our first story tonight our top story in addition to being energy capital of the US.
He is also a big sports lover town home to some of the country's favorite -- Those teens are big part of what keeps the local economy booming.
And here to talk about just what makes Houston -- home.
For all stars is rockets general manager Daryl Morey and the CEO of the Astros George -- -- thank you so much for being here to listen it's great to be here welcome Houston they hear a face you so much.
You're starting -- TV network what -- you doing.
Well we all of the most successful teams in baseball have affiliated regional sports networks the New York franchises the Chicago franchises.
The Red Sox and Boston and we thought that was good enough for us and we wanted to do the same thing so we're in partnership with the the rockets.
And with Comcast and you know watching our network on October -- used -- Jeremy -- from us -- -- you can't.
How are very excited I'm Jeremy obviously.
A wonderful player underrated but not Myanmar and he's going to be big for -- What it's used -- special I mean we have been here for the past two days.
Talking to people about the spirit of the city -- what makes it really an entrepreneurial capital what do you think it's special.
Well the thing that makes -- special right now as is the fastest growing major metropolitan area and North America that's -- that's great for the teams because we're in a position to take advantage of that.
I think it's a great open community anybody can make it here they respect hard work.
There's a great place to call home.
But that's exactly what almost everybody had spoken to is that anyone can make it they respect hard work you make your own mark do you agree with that I mean it seems to really sincerely -- universal spirit of the city.
Yeah I think I think -- -- Nobody is that I think if you watch our team we have.
We've been expectations the past few years I think what makes.
-- -- special really I'm obviously focus on sports -- rate.
The other sports facilities I've lived in many cities have worked in many cities in sports than by far the best facilities in the country.
You're hosting the all star game.
What -- gonna do to make it different this time it's obviously not the first any -- three other times but -- -- -- before the for the fans they're the largest scoreboard and in the country and I think people are going to be sad about that so why -- -- -- -- You're gonna see Jeremy -- larger than it ever seen before on on the scoreboard and I think you're really enhances the -- experience and we're competing.
For people to come theory you know people with large -- and homeland.
To have both the on -- experience and out of -- -- -- Your business channel obviously we like to talk business heat up some interesting moves -- recently changes -- -- stadium fans to bring in their own food and drink which I think it's pretty funny because obviously that didn't -- it seems like that's one of the biggest revenue drivers trying to get people -- -- -- advised that you reduce the price of tickets you have five dollar Beers rebates for season tickets.
Why do you do this I mean do you think overall it drives more revenue.
That all of those that are driven by you know spending time with customers and talking -- -- about the changes that like of course you want thirty cheaper stopped it hadn't had a dollar for your business well when your news when your need you when your new you wanna make a good first impression and I think.
The owner -- -- Jim Crane and me and and and I spent a lot of time with season ticket holders early on and we just ask them what changes we thought.
They thought we needed to make in order to improve the business and example would be the food and beverage policy -- -- getting a little more flexibility.
Really lined us up with a fan friendly nature of Major League Baseball it's on this permitted in other venues and our fans are really appreciated it and they really they probably spent more money for cap this year really they did last year so it's helped this image wise and -- revenue -- -- Fans in -- city like right now army -- do something like that because it's tougher times people have less money to -- in your trading seen your season ticket holders.
You know with their tickets rather than dropping out during rough times that -- is so what about.
And our and our case it's really about to strengthening that relationship showing that we're listening.
They wanted to see some changes and we made a few changes were -- -- enough in Houston where people are doing well they actually have some money really been.
And they've proven that they're willing to spend.
-- using the same -- to sell it to be pretty unique vs the rest of the country and you feel like your customers have this kind of recreational dollar to spend.
Yeah when we have a very strong economy and our fans of partisan than unbelievable we're gonna.
-- the most season tickets over this here since we opened since you know from the building and and that's through a period where we're we're trying to reestablish our team back to being -- title -- -- the Astros and our support through that I think because people see a plan and where we're going has been tremendous yeah.
You really do listen your fans I read I read that you are changing your mascot.
In your team colors is that true.
It is true it is true and part of that is just about a fresh start and when you've got a new regime coming and we're actually changing leaves this year so we're going to the American League.
And that was something that's a little bit of an adjustment for cancer because we've been in the nationally for fifty years.
And in addition that we've got new faces in the front office it would -- general manager new ownership.
New president.
New players -- so a new uniform.
Seems like an appropriate time to do it to give people that sense that things are changing some -- you think.
