Sports
WNBA gaining much interest from cities for expansion – Sports Business Journal
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is “pretty confident” the league will expand to 16 teams by 2028 and that the goal is to “bring in a 14th team for 2026,” according to Alexa Philippou of ESPN.com. The WNBA announced late last year it is adding a 13th team that will be “owned and operated” by the Warriors. It is the league’s “first new franchise” since the Atlanta Dream in 2008. Engelbert said, “It’s complex because you need the arena and practice facility and player housing and all the things you need, committed long-term ownership groups. And so, the nice thing is we’re getting a lot of calls, we’re continuing to engage with cities.” Engelbert also mentioned that cities such as Philadelphia, Toronto, Portland, Denver and Nashville as well as South Florida as places the league is “in discussions with for potential expansion franchises.” Engelbert: “These can either take a very long time to negotiate or it can happen pretty quickly if you find the right ownership group with the right arena situation.” The league also is “planning to hold an expansion draft” for the Golden State franchise, which has yet to announce an official name, in December (ESPN.com, 4/15).
CITY TALK: In Toronto, Gilbert Ngabo noted plans to add Portland as the 14th team were shelved late last year, and the timetable for the next expansion team has “yet to be determined.” Toronto has been considered a “prime expansion candidate” for years, with interest heating up last May after a sold-out exhibition game at Scotiabank Arena. While Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment “declined to make an expansion bid,” Chair Larry Tanenbaum launched Kilmer Sports Venture, which reportedly has a WNBA team “in its sights” (TORONTO STAR, 4/15). In Philadelphia, Jonathan Tannenwald noted the Philadelphia bid group has “repeatedly refused” invitations to state publicly who is involved with it. When asked “who’s involved with the Philadelphia bid and what the league wants to see from it,” Engelbert declined to answer. Engelbert: “I’m not going to comment on any specific ownership group. We’ve had several ownership groups in several cities reach out to us — sometimes in a city, two different ownership groups reach out” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/15).
COUNT ME IN: In an interview on CNN yesterday, U.S. tennis player Serena Williams said that she is “interested in becoming a WNBA owner.” Williams: “With the right market, I would definitely be super-interested in that.” USA TODAY’s Jordan Mendoza noted Williams was one of the prime investors in NWSL club Angel City FC when it was founded in 2020, and she is part-owner of the L.A. Golf Club team in the TGL (USA TODAY, 4/15).
Behind the scenes of Major League Baseball at Rickwood Field; Stanley Cup Final’s viewership momentum and the LA Kings unveil new logo; what’s next for ABC/ESPN after JJ Redick is hired as Lakers’ coach?
Shareable URL copied to clipboard!
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/04/16/wnba-expansion-talks-cathy-engelbert
Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/04/16/wnba-expansion-talks-cathy-engelbert
Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month.
© 2024 Leaders Group. All rights reserved.The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Leaders Group.
© 2024 Leaders Group. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Leaders Group.
Already a subscriber? Click below to sign in.
Upgrade your subscription to get all the news you need:
Adding SBJ weekly content will give you the comprehensive view of sports business with:
Already a subscriber? Click below to sign in.
Upgrade your subscription to get all the news you need:
Adding SBJ daily content will give you the comprehensive view of sports business with:
