Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Franchises

Grizzlies Stuck In Neutral As Ownership Uncertainty Swirls

Pera has not indicated any intention of moving the Grizzlies away from Memphis NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

This season "feels particularly dispiriting and aimless" for the Grizzlies, as the franchise "can’t effectively address any of its structural, leadership and personnel challenges" until Chair & Controlling Owner Robert Pera decides if he is keeping the team, according to Geoff Calkins of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. Minority Owners Steven Kaplan and Daniel Straus have each "triggered their right to try and buy the team under their buy/sell agreement with Pera," and there is now a "prevailing sense that Pera intends to buy out Kaplan and Straus." But "nobody knows for certain." This is a "difficult situation for everyone connected to the franchise because so much depends on it," including the future of the franchise in Memphis. It would be "naive" to think moving the team "isn't a threat." But Pera has "never indicated that he has the slightest intention of moving the team." Pera "may never come to games" and "may have failed in his duty to provide the franchise with visible basketball leadership." But sources said that keeping Pera is "preferable to the unknown." It would be "hard for any owner to move the Grizzlies" before '27, as the lease binds the team to Memphis through the end of the '20-21 season. That lease also has another "half dozen provisions that would make it hard to move the team" before '27 (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 3/31).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2018/04/02/Franchises/Grizzlies.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2018/04/02/Franchises/Grizzlies.aspx

CLOSE