Jazz see improved season ticket sales

After dipping on the heels of a 26-56 record in 2004-05, Jazz season-ticket sales are on the rebound.

"This year we have sold over 1,200 new season tickets through the month of May," Jazz president Denny Haslam said. "Last year, we had sold about 160 new season tickets through the month of May."

Haslam attributes the rise in part to the Jazz's 41-41 showing in the 2005-06 season, and in part to reduced prices in various Delta Center seating sections.

"No. 1, our team showed we can win basketball games," he said. "We made a substantial improvement in win-loss record, and people do care about that.

"We also decided we needed to find more ways to bring people to the building," Haslam added, "and we have increased the number of lower-priced seats that are available."

Jazz season tickets for 2006-07 range from as low as $5 per game in some Delta Center upper-bowl areas to as high as $89 per game in certain non-VIP sections of the lower bowl.

Front-row VIP season-ticket seats at the Delta Center, incidentally, cost $310 per game during the 2005-06 season. According to a report in Tuesday's Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Lakers are increasing season courtside-seat pricing at the Staples Center from $2,100 to $2,200 per game for 2006-07.

MOCK SWITCH: ESPN.com draft analyst Chad Ford posted an updated mock draft online earlier this week, and the new version changes his previously projected pick for the Jazz.

Rather than UConn center Hilton Armstrong, Ford now says Utah will take 7-foot Senegal center Mouhamed Saer Sene.

The guess presumes that shooting guards Brandon Roy of Washington, Randy Foye of Villanova and J.J. Redick of Duke are all gone before the Jazz select at No. 14 overall in the June 28 draft.

Wrote Ford: "The Jazz's first priority is finding a scoring 2 guard. Roy, Foye and Redick are at the top of the list, but if they're off the board, the Jazz will look to their other need at the center position. Greg Ostertag is retiring and no one believes recently acquired Rafael Araujo is the long-term answer.

"Armstrong is a late bloomer who is still finding his game, but he does have the size, athleticism and shot blocking to be a legit NBA center. However, Sene is bigger and more physical and has a much larger upside . . . He's a project, but the Jazz might be ready to take a chance."

Ford dropped Armstrong to Indiana at No. 17.