The ABL and its New England Blizzard are "on the verge"
of receiving "about" another $5M from ABL charter sponsor
Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Co., according to Bruce
Berlet of the HARTFORD COURANT. The Hartford-based company
"is expected" to expand its "almost" $1M investment this
season by investing $3M in the league and "about" $2M in
securing the operating rights to the Blizzard. While the
league will continue to pay player salaries, the company
will control local sponsorships and marketing, the selection
of a team GM and coach, and ticket sales for home games,
played in Hartford and Springfield, MA. Phoenix CEO Robert
Fiondella: "I looked hard at this, and I can tell you why
I'm attracted to the ABL. It's because it's a movement as
well as a game. When more than 550 women pay their way to
tryouts, that tells you something. When 11,000 people show
up for a game (in Hartford), that tells you something. When
a league gives players ownership and profit sharing, its
tells you it has a women's best interest at heart. We
decided to tie our star to that" (HARTFORD COURANT, 2/26).
