Sixers attendance is up a little bit, despite only having one win

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Attendance is up just a bit this year for the the 1-17 Sixers.

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John George

Senior Reporter- Philadelphia Business Journal

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The "rebuilding" Philadelphia 76ers may have only managed one win to go along with its 17 losses so far this season, but the team has managed to increase its home attendance numbers.

This jump at the turnstiles isn't enormous, just 368 fans per game when compared to last season's mark.

The Sixers — who will play its 11th home of the season Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder — are averaging 14,237 fans per game this season.

That figure ranks 29th in the 30-team NBA. Only the Detroit Pistons are drawing fewer fans with an average of 13,652 fans per game. Last year the team averaged 13,869 fans per game, which also ranked 29th in the NBA ahead of only the Milwaukee Bucks.

While the Sixers have come under a lot of criticism during the past two years for fielding a team comprised largely of undrafted free agents and young players in order to secure high drafts picks, Sixers CEO Scott O'Neil has repeatedly said the fans understand the strategy and support it.

"When I am out at events I hear it all the time," O'Neil told me in an interview before the start of the season. "Fans are saying, 'Stay the course.' We believe in our plans and fans are saying they are in, but we are not taking anything for granted."

John George covers health care, biotech/pharmaceuticals and sports business.