Force 10 Sports Management, the WNBA Storm's parent company, is taking over "business aspects -- and a portion of digital marketing" -- for the NWSL Seattle Reign at a "key point in that squad’s relatively young history," according to Geoff Baker of the SEATTLE TIMES. Storm President & GM Alisha Valavanis said that its deal is "unrelated" to the NWSL club Boston Breakers folding last week and the league's K.C. franchise in November disbanding and relocating to Salt Lake City. Valavanis added that it "simply makes sense for the Storm and Reign to join forces at a time both are seeking attention amid a crowded Seattle sports landscape." Force 10 has been "growing its overall sports business," taking over in '12 as host of the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Championships at KeyArena. Valavanis said, “We continue to look at long-term financial sustainability and really building out a business that’s viable and thriving. With this arm of our business, the sports management, we see potential.” Besides the Reign deal, the Storm have "signed a separate pact to handle public relations and consulting work" for the Major League Rugby club Seattle Seawolves. In both cases, the Storm will be "paid a fixed amount" for their services rather than "operating on a percentage of the business brought in" (SEATTLE TIMES, 2/6).
