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Pittsburgh Looked as Destination for Potential NBA/WNBA Team – Pittsburgh Sports Now
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Pittsburgh is not considered a basketball city from many individuals, but there might be a chance that it is a destination for either an NBA or WNBA team to play at in the future, according to a report from KDKA News.
The Sports & Exhibition Authority may potentially spend tens of thousands of dollars to study if an WNBA or NBA team in the city would be viable in years to come. The organization is considering a request for proposal for a firm to conduct a study if the Pittsburgh would support either team, that would cost tens of thousands of dollars, which would look at if the region has enough fans or desire for there to be a professional basketball team to watch.
Pittsburgh has three professional sports teams in the Pirates (Baseball/MLB), the Steelers (Football/NFL) and the Penguins (Hockey/NHL), but never an NBA team, meaning there are three of the “Big 4” sport leagues in North America.
The Riverhounds, who play in the USL Championship, the second-tier of the American soccer pyramid, are also a professional sports team in the city.
Pittsburgh has a history of professional basketball, with the Pittsburgh Pipers and Condors of the late 1960s-early 1970s, who played at Civic Arena.
The Pipers saw great fan attendance in their first season, as they won the ABA Championship in 1968, thanks to great play from future Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins. The team moved to Minnesota for a season and then came back, but without the great success, the team struggled to attract fans and the ABA cancelled the franchise in 1972.
The possibility of an NBA team is likely low, with the region already having three major sports teams and other cities with more viable prospects for expansion. Las Vegas, who hosts the NBA Summer League, and Seattle, who had the SuperSonics from 1967-2008, are cities that the NBA will probably look at before Pittsburgh.
The NHL also added franchises to those cities when it expanded to 32 teams, with the Las Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 and the Seattle Kraken in 2021.
The WNBA might serve as a more realistic possibility for the city, as there is no professional women’s team in Pittsburgh. The schedule for the WNBA also bodes well against the other sports teams, as they play mainly during the spring and summer, where their only competition are the Pirates and the Riverhounds.
Expansion is also something that the WNBA has engaged in recently, as they announced a team in San Francisco to start playing in the league in 2025. There are also only 12 current teams and there will be 13 with the addition of the Golden State team, so a great opportunity for Pittsburgh to become the 14th team in the league and balance both Eastern and Western Conferences.
Basketball is a beloved sport in the region, with Pitt, Duquesne and Robert Morris receiving great fan interest over the years. WPIAL basketball, while not as popular as football in the area, is still popular in the region as well.
Many people mighty say that there is no way a professional team would thrive in Pittsburgh, but if the study occurs and comes back favorable, it might just happen.
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I don’t see it but you never know what a study will come up with. To me, there are only so many entertainment dollars available from the general public .. another team probably will take away eyeballs/seats from existing pro franchises and/or some college teams rather than adding to the overall $ spent by the fan base. Plus, prices for tickets and the game experience have gotten ridiculous and most major venues seem to be supported mostly by corporations and the wealthy.
I can assure you the sports fans in the city would love a basketball team
Did these experts see what Peterson looked like a couple years ago? Seems to me that this is money that is going into the trash can. Last year the Pens had a down year and you saw the sellout streak end and all those empty seats at the arena. Sorry, I for one wouldn’t go watch a pro basketball team
Will Bob Nutting be the owner? If so, then NO!
I could see a WNBA team coming. They don’t really draw fans most places, anyway, so if they don’t in Pittsburgh, that won’t be that big a deal.
If a WNBA team comes to Pittsburgh, I’ll be first in line for season tickets. These girls play real basketball, not just threes and dunks. After you watch a WNBA game, you can’t wait till next game. Lets go, Pittsburgh Ballers could be the name!!!
I would Love to see a WNBA team in Pittsburgh. I think there would enormous fan support. Being a former basketball player since my youth in Pittsburgh and going on to play in Division 1 NCAA championship for HBCU Cheyney university. In the past it was always said that Pittsburgh was not a basketball town, well times have changed and so has the fan support. This is every little girls basketball dream to see a woman’s pro team in their hometown. Please come to Pittsburgh WNBA!!!!
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