Skip navigation
MOST POPULAR RELATED TAGS
  • TOPICS
  • SECTORS
  • COMPANIES
Sports Biz Video Gallery
TV pitchman Billy Mays was found dead in his Florida home on Sunday. CNBC's Darren Rovell has the details.
The athletic company faces an uphill battle after its earnings fall 30%, reports CNBC's Darren Rovell.
darren rovell's sports index
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

RSS FEED

» Help

Current DateTime: 04:50:27 09 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 30212900

SPORTS BIZ VIDEO GALLERY

» More

Current DateTime: 04:50:27 09 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 30231077
    • TV Pitchman Billy Mays Dead at 50  29 Jun 2009

        TV pitchman Billy Mays was found dead in his Florida home on Sunday. CNBC's Darren Rovell has the details.

    • Nike: Not Doing It  25 Jun 2009

        The athletic company faces an uphill battle after its earnings fall 30%, reports CNBC's Darren Rovell.

    • Likely #1 Draft Pick  25 Jun 2009

        Blake Griffin, the likely number one pick in Thursday's NBA draft, talks to CNBC's Darren Rovell.

    • Kyle Busch  24 Jun 2009

        One of the key selling points of a NASCAR sponsorship is driver access. Kyle Busch spent the day at sponsor M&M, getting a tour of the plant and signing autographs for employees, with CNBC's Darren Rovell.

    • Tony Stewart  24 Jun 2009

        Tony Stewart is a winner both on and off the track. The two-time Sprint Cup Champion also runs a dozen other businesses, including racetracks and a public relations firm, with CNBC's Darren Rovell.

    • Brian France  24 Jun 2009

        The France family has run NASCAR since its inception. Brian France is the third generation of the family to oversee the sport, with CNBC's Darren Rovell.

Sports Biz Blog
Text Size
May.20
1:01 PM ET
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Lakers/Spurs Could Find Themselves "Grounded" In NBA Playoffs
Posted By:Darren Rovell
Topics:Airlines | Sports

Picture this: After five games, the Los Angeles Lakers are up on the San Antonio Spurs three games to two in this year’s Western Conference Finals.

Two jets fly the Lakers and Spurs from Los Angeles back to San Antonio for Game Six. But that airline won’t be able to take them back to Los Angeles for the final game should the Spurs prevail.

Why? Because Champion Air, the charter airline that flies 14 NBA teams--including both the Spurs and the Lakers-–is going out of business on May 31, the same day a Game Six would be played.

Cubbie_n_vegas
Champion Air

That means that the NBA will have to find a replacement for Champion, whose contract was supposed to expire at the end of the season, but must discontinue service due to the economic slowdown, the tight credit markets and $130 a barrel oil.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass told me that they are currently reviewing their options, including have the teams fly with a major carrier (not commercial) or perhaps a well-known charter service.

Champion was an ideal charter service for the NBA because six of its planes were fitted to have only 59 seats, all first class. But it’s got to be uncomfortable now.

It’s one thing if an airline files for bankruptcy and continues operating like United and Frontier, it’s another thing if an airline is ceasing operations like EOS, Maxjet, Aloha, ATA and Skybus.

I don’t think I would want to be on one of those flights, let alone the precious cargo that makes up the Spurs and the Lakers.

The San Antonio News-Express reported last month that these planes had an unusual amount of incidents though Champion Air challenged the findings. All I know is that these planes are 727’s – which means that the youngest this model plane can be is 23 years old.

Fourteen NBA teams flew this year with Champion Air, which started as MGM Grand Air. These teams will fly specially-fitted Northwest [NWA  Loading...      ()   ] planes next year.

Update: Henry Abbott of ESPN.com's TrueHoop is reporting that the Spurs plane was grounded last night after they beat the New Orleans Hornets.  According to the report, the Spurs slept on the plane. Sources have confirmed this report. The plane had mechanical problems. Another plane was sent.

Questions?  Comments? 
© 2009 CNBC, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Tools:
PrintEmailAdd This share icon
Next Post


Current DateTime: 02:05:32 09 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29778428

Current DateTime: 01:06:33 09 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779196

Current DateTime: 04:47:52 09 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779199

Current DateTime: 01:00:15 09 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779198
CNBCCNBC
About CNBC  |  Site Map  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Video Reprints  |  Advertise  |  Help  |  Contact
Partners: AOL Money  |  BloggingStocks.com
CNBC is a Division of NBC Universal
  Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis

© 2009 CNBC, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
Thomson ReutersThomson Reuters