The ABL is "negotiating" with Colorado-based Adolph
Coors Co. for a national sponsorship deal, according to
Donna Carter of the DENVER POST. Currently, the ABL's
largest national sponsors are Reebok, Nissan and Phoenix
Insurance and Investment. Coors Dir of Corporate Relations
John Meadows: "It would be premature to talk about anything
national. We met, but there is nothing at all firm at this
point. ... Women's basketball has exploded both collegiately
and now (in) the ABL, which, quite frankly, is doing better
than most people would expect." Meadows made his remarks
while sitting with ABL COO Gary Cavalli at McNichols Arena
for an Xplosion-Power game which drew the ABL's second-
largest crowd in history, with 8,848 (DENVER POST, 1/21).
ABL NEWS: Cavalli is looking to get ABL merchandise
into stores such as Lady Foot Locker and JCPenney, according
to Nancy Gay in the S.F. CHRONICLE. Cavalli: "Two of the
things we need to step up are sponsorships and the whole
area of licensing and merchandising, and those are huge
areas of revenue potential for the league" (S.F. CHRONICLE,
1/21). Cavalli also said the league is "looking at the
potential of selling team operating rights" (Donna Carter,
DENVER POST, 1/20).