Suns to offer fans money-back guarantee for Dec. 6 game against Mavericks

The Suns are struggling to create fan interest in the post-Steve Nash era. Attendance is down, and the team, while having a few players on the roster who casual NBA fans should recognize, is lacking overall in any real star power.

But the team has competed for most of its home games, and even had some exciting finishes — the 26-point comeback to beat the Cavaliers was certainly one of those.

This is something the organization wants to show the fans, that even though it’s a rebuilding year in Phoenix, the game experience at the arena can still be just as enjoyable.

In an effort to get more people to come check out the product in person, the Suns are making an unprecedented offer: Have fun at the next home game Dec. 6 against the Dallas Mavericks, or you can get your money back.

From Darren Rovell of ESPN.com:

The idea of “Satisfaction Guarantee Night” came out of a staff meeting following a 112-106 overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 14.

“After that game, I think we were all struck by the fact that so many people were leaving our building with a smile on their face,” said Suns president Jason Rowley, who took over as team president this summer. “Normally, when a team loses fans are down. But not with us. And that was an eye-opening moment.”

Doing what the team does every home game is enough, they believe, to get someone to sample what they have to offer. And if they don’t like it, they can get their money back in its entirety. Simply fill out an online form and send it in with your ticket.

“We know there’s a risk to this,” said Rowley, whose legal background probably helps him with the guarantee promotion. “But all we’re doing is standing behind my product.”

It’s not a bad idea, considering there have been plenty of empty seats for even the contests against the game’s biggest stars — like when LeBron James and the Heat came to town earlier this season on a Saturday night.

It’s also an interesting choice in terms of timing, considering that this game will be nationally televised on TNT on a Thursday night, and fans may be more likely to stay home and watch than to come out and see it in person.

Overall, it’s low-risk for the Suns. The amount of people who will actually go through the trouble to get their refund is likely to be minimal, and if they sell out a game they otherwise wouldn’t have while getting even a few people more interested in coming to games in person, then the promotion will be viewed as a success.