The "most interesting aspect" of the CPBL is its
"anticipated reliance not on ticket sales or even television
rights fees -- the twin pillars of most pro sports -- but on
corporate sponsorships," according to David Whitford of
FORTUNE, who profiles CPBL Founder Paul McMann. Whitford
writes the league will offer "no exploitation, no hypocrisy,
and the right incentives. Intriguing, absolutely. But will
it sell?" McMann: "This isn't about basketball. It's about
building up a marketing base. Sports is just a vehicle you
build it around." Whitford: "Nothing is off-limits, not
even naming rights to the league itself. For $1 million, it
could be the Amtrak CPBL." McMann faces a "self-imposed
mid-fall deadline for nailing down five more team sponsors,"
as well as raising additional equity capital for "start-up
costs" -- McMann has already spent $350,000 of his own money
-- and "anticipated revenue shortfalls in the first two
years." McMann added that Nike and adidas "will supply
shoes" to the league, and select games will be televised on
the PAX network every Saturday through a time-buy agreement.
Whitford writes McMann has "passion, persistence and ...
[an] ability to tap into widespread disgust with the state
of bigtime college sports" (FORTUNE, 9/27 issue).
