The WUSA announced this morning the selection of its
first eight markets plus eight alternate markets for the
league's scheduled launch in April, 2001. In addition, the
league announced a number of player signings and the opening
of its league office in N.Y. The announcements come before
the first round of financing is completed, which will
provide a minimum of $40M to fund the initial eight team
operations plus the league's administration during the first
five years. The WUSA has narrowed its market selections to
16, with its first eight conditionally being: Atlanta,
Boston, N.Y., Philadelphia, Orlando-Tampa, San Diego, San
Francisco Bay Area and Washington, DC. Eight alternate
markets which may be added in the first year or subsequent
years include: Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, L.A., Miami,
Portland, Raleigh-Durham and St. Louis. The league is also
monitoring stadium development opportunities in Milwaukee,
Denver and Houston. The eight initial markets are
conditioned on the execution of venue contracts by November
1, 2000. The WUSA added that in some markets, there will be
a single WUSA team-operating investor, with partnerships in
other markets. For example, corporate league investor Time
Warner Cable will invest $5M in each the N.Y. and Tampa-
Orlando market, while league Chair John Hendricks and
investor Amos Hostetter will each contribute 50% of
operating rights in the DC team. The league also announced
that it has received additional letters of intent from more
than 100 domestic and international players (WUSA).
WUSA TV DEAL: The WUSA also announced that it has
reached a four-year national cable TV deal with Turner
Sports to televise 88 games over that time on TNT and
CNN/SI. Beginning in 2001, TNT and CNN/SI will combine to
televise 22 games per year -- 15 on TNT and seven on CNN/SI,
including the playoffs and championship game (TNT).
