Open Thread: Remembering the Spurs’ “Penny Night”

A one-time Express-News special shows up on social media

Forty-seven years ago tonight, the San Antonio Spurs hosted the Atlanta Hawks. And this ad below advertised “Penny Night.”

The ad featured the trio of Mark Olberding, George Karl, and Billy Paultz. Olberding, one of the “Bruise Brothers,” stayed in San Antonio and moved into business development. George Karl, who only donned the Silver & Black during his playing career, transitioned from player to assistant coach in San Antonio before serving as head coach for half a dozen organizations in the NBA. Billy Paultz, “The Whopper” as elder fans remember, was the 1976 ABA blocks leader with the Spurs.

The ad states “Buy One $5 Ticket at the Regular Price- Buy a Second Ticket for One Cent With an Express-News Coupon.”

The newspaper ad made its way around social media last week when I noticed the date was coming up.

First off, $5 for a ticket at HemisFair! sounds about right. An inflation calculator has the fiver at approximately $27. A look at what tickets are available for tonight’s game shows there are some in that range.

With that, the “penny” seat should run fans about 50 cents.

Not for nothing, but nabbing a ticket for a pair of quarters would be a sweet night out for some.

No matter the cost, the Spurs are hosting the Bulls tonight and they can use the support as they hope to break this losing streak.

Go Spurs Go!

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