Brooklyn Nets attendance, up 23.1%, leads NBA in one-season gain

Sports Business Journal reports that the Nets' 23.1 percent increase in attendance this season led the NBA, far outpacing the Houston Rockets, at 8.5 percent and the Pacers and Raptors, who were up 7.8 percent each.

The Nets finished 16th in attendance in their premier season in Brooklyn, averaging 17,187 or more than 96 percent of the Barclays Center's final basketball capacity of 17,773. The planned capacity was 18,000 but was reduced as more high-end sections were configured. The ranking was the Nets highest since 1997-98 when they finished 12th. In their last season in New Jersey, the Nets finished 30th and dead last.

Not surprisingly, the league's attendance leader was the Chicago Bulls who averaged better than 21,000 at United Center.

Meanwhile, SBJ also reports the Nets are looking to expand the team store at Barclays Center next season. Brett Yormark said the 3,350-square-foot Nets Shop by Adidas, open 365 days a year with a streetside entrance, is too small to meet the demand for Nets merchandise. “We are exploring more space in particular for kids [retail],” Yormark said.

• NBA Turnstile Tracker - Sports Business Journal