Shut Up and Dribble? Exploring the Real Estate Strategies and Trends of NBA Teams

Abstract

NBA teams have always had to think about real estate through one certain lenses: the arena they play their 41 home games in (plus any subsequent playoff games). But now, NBA teams have evolved past only just thinking about the arena. Teams have increasingly gotten involved in real estate development. This thesis seeks to explore the impact of real estate as a revenue driver for NBA teams, trends observed, and strategic decisions that teams must consider. This thesis will explore current real estate activities of all 30 NBA teams and will examine the choices that teams must make regarding arenas, real estate development, and practice facilities. The findings will help teams and municipalities understand best practices for team-driven real estate, and how strategies can vary team by team based on their situations.