The Jazz have found their magic formula to build.

[Sean]

It doesn't matter what we want, but what team ownership and the league wants. And what team ownership wants is to be fiscally solvent, and what the team ownership and the league want is to make as much money as possible. And the Jazz hit on that formula long ago, which is to tap into the cultish nature of the dominant social construct in the state, i.e. the mormons, and get the team a cult following, so the money flows, such as it is, regardless of the level of "success" the team reaches, at least from a fan perspective. So until fans stop coming to games, and the money starts to ebb, the team (and league in respect to the Jazz organization) will continue in the same vein: moderate success that keeps butts in the seats. They don't care about swinging for the fences, and the league doesn't care about providing the Jazz a path to better outcomes, as long as the money keep coming in, and it does so they don't.

Fans will stop coming. Especially now that the NHL is in the market.

Utah has been insanely consistent the last 40 years. In fact, prior to this season (and maybe still now - I haven't done the math), Utah was the 5th winningest franchise in NBA history (win percentage). The team has won a lot of ****ing games over the last 40 years and generally only have a few back-to-back down seasons.

Since 1984, Utah has missed the playoffs only 11 times and the most consecutive seasons they've gone without making the playoffs is four.

Utah is currently at three-straight seasons without a playoff. It'll likely then turn into four.

And that's where we kind of enter uncharted territory.

The difference is that there was significant progress between the second and fourth drought years last time - and a lot of optimism not just with Quin but Gobert and Hayward.

Utah went from 15th in the West to 11th and then 9th before getting back to the playoffs in 2017 (and winning the first-round vs the Clippers in seven).

What's the excitement level for Utah basketball going to be like if they miss the playoffs again over the next two or three seasons?

What if they turn into the Kings?

 

[LogGrad98]

Fans will stop coming. Especially now that the NHL is in the market.

Utah has been insanely consistent the last 40 years. In fact, prior to this season (and maybe still now - I haven't done the math), Utah was the 5th winningest franchise in NBA history (win percentage). The team has won a lot of ****ing games over the last 40 years and generally only have a few back-to-back down seasons.

Since 1984, Utah has missed the playoffs only 11 times and the most consecutive seasons they've gone without making the playoffs is four.

Utah is currently at three-straight seasons without a playoff. It'll likely then turn into four.

And that's where we kind of enter uncharted territory.

The difference is that there was significant progress between the second and fourth drought years last time - and a lot of optimism not just with Quin but Gobert and Hayward.

Utah went from 15th in the West to 11th and then 9th before getting back to the playoffs in 2017 (and winning the first-round vs the Clippers in seven).

What's the excitement level for Utah basketball going to be like if they miss the playoffs again over the next two or three seasons?

What if they turn into the Kings?

Fans don't have 40 year memories. It's more about what have you done for me lately. And lately, last 4 years let's say, they've sucked. And still put butts in the seats. Jazz fans are already attached in a cultish way. The team knows this so why would they care to rock the fiscal boat and go crazy trying to get anywhere but simply back to the playoffs? That's all that is needed to reset the fanbase and keep the butts in the seats.

 

[efukillar]

Who's the AJ you're talking about?

AJ Dybantsa

 

[Sean]

Fans don't have 40 year memories. It's more about what have you done for me lately. And lately, last 4 years let's say, they've sucked. And still put butts in the seats. Jazz fans are already attached in a cultish way. The team knows this so why would they care to rock the fiscal boat and go crazy trying to get anywhere but simply back to the playoffs? That's all that is needed to reset the fanbase and keep the butts in the seats.

You're misunderstanding the point entirely. I mentioned the 40 years because Utah has not had many stretches where they've tested being awful for multiple years. That is the point.

The fans' commitment to the franchise is predicated on the idea they will eventually turn into something special-ish. But as I outlined in my post, there's been few moments where the franchise has stunk for years like a lot of teams have.

If Utah fails at rebuilding, and continues to be a non-factor in the West for, say, the rest of this decade, yeah I'm confident the fans will stop coming - especially if the local alternative is a hockey team that has built itself into one of the stronger franchises in the NHL.

I think people overestimate the devotion of Utah fans. It's good, to be sure, but that's largely because Utah fans have been spoiled with consistent teams for 40 years. They have never had to experience the pains of rarely making the playoffs like the Kings or Charlotte have the last 20 years.

How's that fan base look if Utah makes the playoffs only once in the next 11 seasons?

I doubt it's anywhere as cultish.

That's the precarious position Utah is in as they navigate potentially a multi-year rebuild where there's little progress and momentum.

Compounding the issue, unlike last time, is now a direct competitor for the money of the community: the Utah Mammoth.