Mark Cuban bought the Dallas Mavericks for $285 million and found the opening game unsold. He cold-called former ticket buyers himself, positioning seats as cheaper than a McDonald's meal, and offered free first games. He says owners must do the work they ask of their team.
I paid $285 million for the Dallas Mavericks. First game of the year, wasn't sold out, energy wasn't in the building. I look around thinking, I can do a better job than this. And we had 8, 9, whatever salesperson. I put my desk right in the middle of them. I put a phone book and a computer printout of all of our former customers. And right there next to them, I just started dialing. Ma'am, I know you've been to a Mavericks game before, but do you realize now that it's less expensive to come to a Mavericks game than to take your family to McDonald's? Our tickets start at $8, and McDonald's and a Coke is more than that. Why don't you come and try us out? First game's free on me. I wanted everybody that worked with me to see that if I ask them to do it, I'll do it. If you can align your interests with those of the people you work with, these are going to work for
