The Associated Press reported last week that an "An investment group led by the co-founder of the Alibaba Group"--that's Joe Tsai, Nets' 49% owner and likely future full owner--"is close to a deal" to buy the New York Liberty WNBA team from James Dolan, who owns the Knicks. There hasn't yet been a follow-up.
The Liberty before last season said it had “lost money every year since its inception and cumulative losses exceed $100 million," but moving 2018 home games to the Westchester County Center--its 2019 plan, as well--meant operating costs were slashed enormously, along with attendance.
The team last year averaged 2,823 fans--but only 1,886 in Westchester, given a couple of bigger games at the Garden. In the previous season, 2017, the team averaged 9,899 fans at the Garden, as noted in the Guardian--but not enough to make a profit. Perhaps the Garden also found more profitable alternative programming.
The Liberty before last season said it had “lost money every year since its inception and cumulative losses exceed $100 million," but moving 2018 home games to the Westchester County Center--its 2019 plan, as well--meant operating costs were slashed enormously, along with attendance.
The team last year averaged 2,823 fans--but only 1,886 in Westchester, given a couple of bigger games at the Garden. In the previous season, 2017, the team averaged 9,899 fans at the Garden, as noted in the Guardian--but not enough to make a profit. Perhaps the Garden also found more profitable alternative programming.
A move?
If the Tsai purchase goes through, the few games scheduled for the Garden this year might plausibly be moved to Barclays Center, but not the full season.
But it's unclear whether a Tsai-owned team would ultimately move to Barclays, to the Nassau Coliseum, or out of town. Commenting on High Post Hoops, Carly Grenfell suggested Brooklyn was "still a perfect market to build a WNBA fanbase. There is untapped potential there."
Presumably, that would include the sheer size of the borough (and its accessibility to other parts of the city and region) and its basketball fans, plus 1) families interested in the more affordable WNBA and 2) the lesbian population, given the significant lesbian demographic of WNBA fandom.
If the Tsai purchase goes through, the few games scheduled for the Garden this year might plausibly be moved to Barclays Center, but not the full season.
But it's unclear whether a Tsai-owned team would ultimately move to Barclays, to the Nassau Coliseum, or out of town. Commenting on High Post Hoops, Carly Grenfell suggested Brooklyn was "still a perfect market to build a WNBA fanbase. There is untapped potential there."
Presumably, that would include the sheer size of the borough (and its accessibility to other parts of the city and region) and its basketball fans, plus 1) families interested in the more affordable WNBA and 2) the lesbian population, given the significant lesbian demographic of WNBA fandom.
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