The NBA lockout is not just about owners and players losing money. It’s also about NBA cities, arenas, countless ancillary companies and the people who work and live in each city getting hit hard during an already tough economic period.  That was the sentiment expressed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which issued an open letter to the NBA and the NBA Players Assn. asking them to “consider the consequences to cities if a lockout continues.”  Read more after the jump.

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The letter is addressed to NBA commissioner David Stern and Billy Hunter, executive director of the NBA Players Assn. It is signed by mayors from 14 NBA cities, including Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a three-time NBA all-star who played from 1987-2000 with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Sun.

“As both a Mayor and former player, I have great appreciation for the NBA’s economic and civic impact on communities across the country,” Mayor Johnson said in a statement. “Sacramento joins other cities in the NBA fraternity in urging for a compromise that puts fans back in the stands and the thousands who depend on the NBA back to work.”

The letter was issued on Oct. 13, the same day Stern told reporters that if there is no agreement by Tuesday, a season already shortened by two weeks may not start until after Christmas.

The Conference of Mayors, based in Washington, D.C., also said it is “exploring the feasibility of creating the Alliance for Professional Sports Cities, a sports alliance that would provide a resource for cities to exchange information on ways to better work with and coordinate with the major sports leagues.”

The alliance would be headed by Indianapolis Mayor Gregory A. Ballard.

In the open letter, the Conference of Mayors writes, “We are the Mayors of our country’s NBA cities. Every year, our residents pack the arenas where our teams play. They buy the NBA’s products. They cheer for their favorite players with passion and intensity. They attend games and make lasting memories with family and friends. Many own or work at small businesses that depend on NBA games for survival. No matter how you look at it, our NBA teams are a vital part of the economic and social fabric of our cities.

“Unfortunately, lost in the debate over a new NBA collective bargaining agreement, has been the perspective of those very residents and the negative impact a cancelled season might have on them, our cities and our local economies.”

The letter is signed by the mayors from NBA cities including Indianapolis, Orlando (which is the scheduled site of the 2012 NBA All-Star Game), Sacramento, Memphis, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, Detroit, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and Denver.

“Much of the discussion about the current NBA labor situation has centered on the owners, players and fans,” said Indianapolis Mayor Ballard in a statement. ”However, the NBA lockout is also affecting the livelihood of restaurant owners, wait staff, parking attendants and others in our cities and we believe their voices should be heard as well.”

According to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, “This letter isn’t about taking sides in the NBA’s labor negotiations. It’s about speaking up for our cities, our residents and our small businesses whose financial health is tied to the NBA season and asking for the league and the players union to work toward finding a compromise that allows basketball season to begin.”

In the open letter, the Conference of Mayors concludes, “We respectfully ask that you consider the consequences to our cities should the lockout continue. We ask that you work quickly to find a way to compromise so that we might salvage the upcoming NBA season.

“We are proud to call our cities home to NBA franchises. As basketball fans, we know winning and losing is part of the game. Rest assured; everyone loses if there is no season.”

Full Letter HERE

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