Summer of 2010

It would take years to quantify the actual impact of the statement “I am taking my talents to South Beach” (Lebron James). To put a number on the heartbroken citizens or unsold jerseys and tickets in Cleveland is just ludicrous. Cleveland is the city of heartbreak: The Drive from John Elway, The Shot from Michael Jordan, and The Fumble from Earnest Byner. Now, The Decision will absolutely crush this city's hearts and the economy because of what Lebron meant to the Cleveland's economy. It wasn’t just the tickets he sold (sell outs every game) or the gear he sold (thousands of jerseys and shoes). It is about the publicity and the fact that people actually wanted to go to Cleveland. Most people around the country do not even know where Cleveland is let alone want to go there. In 2003, before Lebron was drafted, the Cavs averaged 11,497 fans a game. If you average the ticket prices at $50 a game that comes to approximately $574,850 a game which was one of the lowest grosses/game in the league. The team also went 17-65 that year. The year Lebron was drafted the attendance went up to 18,288 fans a game. Now if we average that with ticket prices at $50 a game it is $914,400 a game. That is almost a $400,000 increase just in gate receipts in about 5 months. This does not count everything sold at the game such as : shirts, food, souvenirs etc... And according to Forbes the overall value of the team went from $150 million to over $700 million during that time. Oh, and the team also went 35-47 that year an 18 win increase. Another thing I have not even covered was tax money.  Lebron pays $976,773 in state income tax, $353,250 in local tax, and $186,942.98 in his property tax. That is a lot of money from one man. Further, as a result of Lebron bolting, the restaraunts in downtown Cleveland are going to lose and estimated $48 million over the course of this season according to Cleveland.com. Also according to AOL daily finance during Lebron’s rookie year Cleveland Cavs radio ratings were up 300% and they sold over $72 million worth of jerseys in just nine months. But the main point is Lebron made people in Northeast Ohio and around the Country go from complete love of this guy to complete hatred and disappointment in him. Now tell me another athlete who can have that impact.