LeBron James is already boosting ticket and merchandise demand for Philadelphia 76ers

The NBA season hasn't even started and the Philadelphia 76ers' signing of LeBron James is already paying off.The 76ers will help open the NBA regular season on Oct. 20 with a game against the reigning champion New York Knicks. From a new jersey patch sponsorship to ticket and merchandise sales, the LeBron economy has already been a win for Philadelphia."[He is] from a basketball perspective, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, to ever play. So he's going to make that impact on the organization, and then from an economic perspective, all that stuff follows," said Tad Brown, CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which operates the Philadelphia 76ers.One consulting firm, Boyd Company, projects the first full year of LeBron James with the Philadelphia 76ers could add $250 million to $430 million in total regional economic activity. James left the Los Angeles Lakers and signed with the 76ers this summer.Even Pennsylvania's governor recognizes the LeBron effect. "You're going to have 41 home games with LeBron in South Philly, every game is going to be a destination for people to come, and I think it's going to be great for our economy...It's going to be really big for P...