WNBA Minnesota Lynx Actively Looking For A Jersey Sponsor
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Lynx Have Contacted Best Buy,
Target To Sponsor Jerseys |
The WNBA Lynx are "actively looking for a jersey sponsor," according to Roman Augustoviz of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Lynx COO Conrad Smith: "We've thrown it out to a couple companies, Best Buy and Target. We think it's a great thing for the (WNBA). It's substantial revenue. We'd love to get a sponsor." Smith said that although the '09 season has already begun, the Lynx "still could get a sponsor for the second half" of the season. Smith noted that the league has "set a benchmark" of $1M annually for a jersey sponsorship based on the Mercury's deal with LifeLock. Augustoviz writes that is "big money for a league struggling to find its niche in the sports landscape and with a salary cap of $803,000 per team." Lynx G Seimone Augustus said of a potential sponsor, "I don't care, as long as they pay the money and keep the Lynx going" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/10). Illinois Daily Herald columnist Patricia Babcock McGraw said the idea of shirt sponsorships is a "little unusual," but noted the WNBA is "trying to be innovative." Babcock McGraw: "They’re trying to be creative in terms of ways of making money and increasing their capital. ... It’s a tough economic time. The roster sizes alone have been decreased in the WNBA just to kind of fit in with this economic situation. So everybody’s looking to cut costs and make money in unique ways” (“Monsters in the Morning," CSN Chicago, 6/9).
CUBAN SAYS NBA IS NEXT, FOR THE RIGHT PRICE: Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban discussed the possibility of NBA teams signing jersey sponsorships in the future, and said, "It’s just a question of price. We already know we’re whores, it’s just a question of how much.” Cuban said "if someone came to me with the right amount, I could convince" the NBA to allow the deal. Cuban: "But it couldn’t be $100,000 to be on the jersey. If someone said $5(M) for the year, (the NBA would) have to look long and hard, and I think I could convince them. ... In this market, finding a $10(M) advertiser like that is not easy.” Cuban noted such a move would be a "media hassle" at first, as "all the traditionalists would use this as ammunition to write their articles." However, he added it would "be forgotten in 33 days.” Cuban: “People recognize that the more that comes in in advertising, the more realistic the ticket prices can be, that there’s the cause and effect. And, overall, I think particularly with the economy as it is, the sports fans are a lot smarter about the economics of sports and I think it’s far less of an issue than it used to be” (“The Dan Patrick Show,” 6/9).
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