Miami Heats Tickets

In the franchise's beginning, Miami Heats tickets were far from being a hot commodity. During each of their first 11 seasons, they averaged less than 15,000 fans per game, and never once managed to draw a total of 650,000 fans to their home contests during that period. For good, reason, too -- the team wasn't much to write home about. Despite a playoff appearance in 1992, the Heat went a combined 131-279 in their first five seasons in the National Basketball Association. Of their first 10 seasons, Miami posted a winning record in just four of them. That has all changed as of late, however. The team went 59-23 in the 2004-05 season, winning the Southeastern Division and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for just the second time. And their fans went along for the ride, setting franchise records for highest total home attendance (815,000-plus) and per-game home attendance (nearly 20,000 per contest).

One Big Reason for Increased Miami Heats Tickets Sales

What has been the primary catalyst behind the team's improved play and the spike in Miami Heats ticket sales? It is one man. He is a man who is known by many names. Shaq. The Diesel. The Big Aristotle. But most basketball fans know him simply as No. 32, center Shaquille O'Neal. O'Neal was acquired by the Heat in a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the 2004-05 season, and in his first year with Miami he averaged 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.34 blocks per game. Shaq has earned All-NBA honors in each of his 12 seasons with the Heat, Lakers and Orlando Magic, and is an 11-time NBA All-Star. He has won two All-Star Game MVP awards and three NBA Finals MVP trophies, and was named the league MVP in 1999-00. O'Neal was the youngest player named as one of the NBA's 50 greatest players of all-time. Entering the 2005-06 season, his 13th in the league, Shaq remains one of the NBA's most feared and dominating players, and once again this season Heat fans will have the opportunity to watch him play for their squad.