With three new start-up basketball leagues hoping to
begin play by late '99, the BOSTON GLOBE's Gregg Krupa asks,
"Will corporate America ante up the necessary sponsorship
fees and other financial support to make the leagues
viable?" The IBL, the National Rookie League and the
Collegiate Professional Basketball League "are scurrying to
find out." Woolf Associates VP Andrew Brandt: "I think
there is a market in this country for more than the [NBA]
and the [CBA] on a professional level, and this fills the
void." But most corporate spokespeople "said they would
likely wait before signing on." Eric Kraus, who handles
sports marketing at Gillette: "There has been some buzz
about these new leagues, but it is not as if there is a hot
property out there that people are vying to jump on." Krupa
adds: "Each of the start-up leagues would, in their own way,
offer some money for college education, at a time when the
athletes are ready to attend." So far, the NCAA's response
"has been muted." NCAA spokesperson Wally Renfro: "The
leagues may in fact be a viable alternative for basketball
players who may not be academically prepared to handle the
load at the college level and who want to play basketball"
(Gregg Krupa, BOSTON GLOBE, 8/13).
INTEREST IN IBL: Cincinnati's IBL franchise will play
at the Crown and will be headed by IHL Cyclones and Crown
President Doug Kirchhofer, his brother John, and Mike Smith
of entertainment holdings company Nederlander & Associates
(CINCINNATI POST, 8/12). A majority owner is not in place
in San Diego, but Ernie and Ron Hahn will own less than 10%
of the team, as will Frank Roach. Ernie Hall is GM of the
Sports Arena, the team's home (UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/12).
