Big3 Expects To Turn Profit As Soon As Next Season

The Big3 has yet to make money during its three-year existence, but the principles behind the 3-on-3 league "expect to turn a profit in year four," according to HBO's Andrea Kremer. Big3 Founder & CEO Jeff Kwatinetz and actor/rapper Ice Cube have "invested millions of dollars of their own money in the Big3." Kwatinetz said, "We're not making money yet, but we're not supposed to make money yet. I mean, the UFC lost money for nine, 10 years." Kremer noted the league at one point might have been "dismissed as a gimmick, but for one small detail: there's growing evidence that it's working." The Big3 has "expanded from eight teams to 12 and its tour has grown from 10 cities to 18." Additionally, the league's new rights deal puts games on CBS, while ticket sales "are on the rise." Kwatinetz said, "The attendance is about 10,000 a game, which is pretty extraordinary" ("Real Sports," HBO, 7/30).