Net sales

Discount Store News, Sept 6, 1999

The MJ theory of professional basketball goes someting like this: The longer Michael Jordan stays out of the NBA, the worse off sales are for basketball accessories and equipment at mass. But a new ray of optimism is emerging all the same, as customers are showing interest in high-grade basketball hoops similar to those found in professional arenas.

The increase in disposable income, the growth of the upscale housing market arid customers looking to upgrade from portable systems that have been on the market now for many years are the main factors behind this new-found interest in high-end hoops, according to manufacturers. Such basketball system brands as Bison, Porter, Gorilla and Hydra-RIB can be found at retailers such as Oshman's, Chicks, Sport Chalet and MC Sports. Low-price-point traditional mass brands such as Lifetime and Huffy still account for a majority of the market, but Huffy entered the upper end of the market with the acquisition of the Hydra-RIB brand last year.

Another sign of optimism is participation. Nearly 30 million people played basketball last year, about double that of baseball, the so-called great American pastime.