As the WNBA opened its fourth season Monday, the
league's next stop "appears to be a permanent place on
America's sports landscape," according to Jennifer Bellis of
the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS. While expectations of people
"outside" the league "weren't exactly high" when the league
debuted in '97, the "dream has become a successful reality."
Bellis: "The WNBA is the real thing. And it's here to stay"
(SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 5/28). WNBA President Val
Ackerman: "Probably the highest compliment of all [is] that
people are focusing less on the newness of [the league], or
how this is somehow different from other women's leagues.
... I do think the novelty has worn off. And now ... we
have become more mainstream, and that was our goal going in"
(Newark STAR-LEDGER, 5/28). Ackerman, who "doesn't foresee"
expansion for the 2001 season: "We've been growing a great
deal and for a lot of reasons. Doubling in size has added
some significant costs to the league. ... It's also
important for a new league to be mindful of the effects
expansion has on the league and the dilution of talent with
the teams" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 5/28).
BUT CHALLENGES LOOM: In L.A., Earl Gustkey wrote that
there are "signs the WNBA is beginning to wear thin with its
marquee players," as many players believe the 5-10% "yearly
compensation increases aren't commensurate with revenue they
believe the league is earning." But the WNBA claims it is
"losing money." Gustkey noted that some sources believe the
WNBA's corporate sponsorship income "has swelled" from $21M
in '97 to more than $40M in 2000 (L.A. TIMES, 5/29). In
Chicago, Ron Rapoport wrote, "What's interesting about this
season is that the era of good feelings that attended the
league's birth seems dead and gone. ... More than a few
people are wondering if a summer league drawing modest
crowds and even more modest TV ratings will ever start
earning its keep. ... Unless [the WNBA] starts to show the
growth that has so far eluded it, the NBA just might pull
the plug" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/30). In DC, Eric Fisher
writes that "among the public," the "jury is still firmly
out" on the WNBA and the "amount of success the new teams
find this summer will provide a key litmus test to the
overall health of the league." Burns Sports President Bob
Williams: "There isn't much momentum surrounding the league
anymore" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/31). In an Op-Ed in the
current SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, The Sports Business Group
President David Carter writes, "Many industry observers will
be watching with great interest the impact on the league
brought about by the formation of a players union; the end
of the 'honeymoon effect' and possibly even a downturn in
the U.S. economy." Carter asks, "How long will the WNBA
remain a viable brand extension of the NBA? ... The short
answer: The WNBA will remain viable for a very, very long
time" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/29 issue). In Seattle,
Steve Kelley writes that though the WNBA "has a product
worth watching," the game "isn't the problem. ... The
problem for the WNBA is spreading the word, making this game
more than a niche sport" (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/31).
NEW MARKETS: The Sol said that more than 7,000 tickets
have been sold for the expansion team's regular season
opener Thursday at AmericanAirlines Arena (MIAMI HERALD,
5/31). In Seattle, Jayda Evans noted that the expansion
Storm have sold more than 10,000 tickets for Thursday's
opener at KeyArena. Storm Senior Dir of Operations Karen
Bryant noted the challenges of attracting fans during the
summer months in Seattle: "We know people like to be outside
in the summer. That's why we made every game an event. ...
Plus, it's only 16 nights" (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/30). About 60%
of the defunct ABL Reign's 1,270 season-ticket holders
bought WNBA packages (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/30).
YOU BETCHA: In Denver, Dylan Tomlinson wrote that
Ackerman "preferred not to comment" on the addition of WNBA
games to the Las Vegas betting boards. What Ackerman "may
be unwilling to acknowledge is that gambling may make the
WNBA a higher-profile league and, ironically, a higher
profile for the league is something she has worked
exhaustively to achieve." Stardust Hotel sports book
employee Mark Duncan: "It's definitely a status thing.
We're not seeing many requests to take bets on soccer or
some of the other smaller leagues like the MLS or NFL
Europe, but we are getting that for women's college hoops
and the WNBA" (DENVER POST, 5/30).
