The Jazz Summer League "will happen in Utah again next year" after an "impressive gathering" of more than 31,000 fans over three days last week at EnergySolutions Arena, according to Jody Genessy of the DESERET NEWS. Jazz President Randy Rigby "was all smiles" at the conclusion of the "revived and renamed summer league," the state's first since '08. He said of the crowds, "Fantastic. The fans responded. We haven’t had it for (seven) years, but everyone has been wanting it. They’ve come out and been very supportive." Genessy noted the Jazz "averaged 10,584 fans throughout the summer league, including a crowd of 12,128" for Thursday’s game against the 76ers. Rigby said of the decision to bring the event back next summer, "We fought hard to get it back and we don’t want to give it up. We want to keep going. We want to make it better every year." But Genessy noted the Jazz will "experience one hitch next summer as the arena has already been booked for an event" in July. The team "will have to find another venue." Rigby said that the other participating teams -- the Celtics, Spurs and 76ers -- "were impressed and want to participate again." In addition, the Jazz are "considering adding a couple of teams in the future." Rigby: "We may look at six. We want to make it a quality experience for the teams that we have here" (DESERET NEWS, 7/11). The Jazz in April announced that they would bring back a summer league event as a "smaller reincarnation" of the Rocky Mountain Revue (THE DAILY).
SONIC BOOM? In Seattle, Jayda Evans noted the Seattle Pro-Am, a nine-team men's summer league, worked with the WNBA Storm to "hold a doubleheader" Friday night at KeyArena. Basketball HOFer Lenny Wilkens, who coached in the event, said, "It shows people that Seattle is alive and well." Hedge fund manager Chris Hansen's Seattle Arena Group "purchased 2,000 tickets to the event, Hansen sitting courtside" with Storm G Sue Bird during the opening half of the Pro-Am game. The event "had a KeyArena lower-bowl sellout of 9,686" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/11). Also in Seattle, Geoff Baker notes the Pro-Am event featured Clippers G Jamal Crawford, Wizards F Martell Webster, Celtics G Isaiah Thomas, Hawks G Justin Holiday, Celtics C Kelly Olynyk and Celtics G Avery Bradley. The sizable crowd was generated "despite the Pro-Am’s 10 p.m. start time and some NBA restrictions limiting advance marketing." Crawford: "I think this shows the NBA and everybody around the country how real Seattle basketball is and that people want to come out and see it." Storm President & GM Alisha Valavanis said the idea to partner with the Pro-Am league's launch was a "unique opportunity to create some buzz and excitement around Seattle basketball." She added, "We know there still is an incredible affinity for basketball in this city" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/13).
