In its second season, the ABL "experienced a 23%
increase in attendance, drew a few high-caliber coaches and
showed that women can dunk, [but] a couple of real
challenges remain," according to Valerie Lister of USA
TODAY. It still "must secure a major" TV contract, attract
this year's top collegiate talent and keep the Rage's Dawn
Staley "from jumping" to the WNBA. BET and Fox Sports Net
(FSN) aired ABL games this season, with FSN covering all
five games of the league championship series. However, most
of the games were shown tape delayed. ABL CEO Gary Cavalli:
"We've been told those things will be better in the future.
It wasn't that long ago (early 1980s) that the NBA Finals
were taped delayed." The league "plans on increasing its
national exposure," and "is considering" starting its season
in November so that the championship series takes place
after the Final Four instead of during the NCAA Tournament.
Staley and the league are in discussions (USA TODAY, 3/17).
HARTFORD HOME: The ABL Blizzard announced Monday that
they will play all their home games next season in Hartford,
rather than splitting time with Springfield, MA. Several
factors were taken into account. In their first season, the
Blizzard averaged 7,412 for eight games in Hartford and
3,406 for 12 games in Springfield. This season, they drew
an average of 10,400 for 16 games in Hartford, compared with
a 4,743 average, for six games in Springfield. The average
net profit in Springfield was 38% less than the lowest game
in Hartford, while the average net profit in Hartford was
60% higher than in Springfield and 34% higher than a sellout
in Springfield. Also, 50% of the 1,229 Springfield season-
ticket holders and 83% of the 406 with season tickets for
both sites lived in CT (Bruce Berlet, HART. COURANT, 3/17).
