Skip to main content

Featured Post

Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park FAQ, timeline, and infographics (pinned post)

2 comments

The New York Liberty's parade draws enthusiastic fans and earns front-page coverage, while rival politicians bask in a championship.

Everyone loves a parade, right?

So the parade along the Canyon of Heroes Thursday for the WNBA champions New York Liberty got front-page mention in the New York Times, and either the front or the back pages in the tabloids, below.

It was living proof that, as the sports economists say, having pro sports is more about the intangibles--community spirit--than actually bringing new tax revenue. 

Remember, the Barclays Center is tax-exempt, and Joe and Clara Wu Tsai, main owners of the team and the arena company, get the branded, revenue-producing plaza for free.
Grit and passion

Heck, even Barclays, sponsor of the arena and the team, ordered a full-page ad in Thuresday's New York Times, honoring the Liberty.

"Congratulations to the New York Liberty on making history by winning their first-ever championship. You showed the world what it takes to transform possibility into reality through grit, determination, and passion," the ad stated. "Your boldness inspires us all!

Some might remember that Barclays is an admitted felon for manipulating the foreign exchange market and, as I argued in City & State in September 2015, should've been ejected from the naming rights agreement.

The state’s not supposed to allow contracting with a Prohibited Person, and Barclays sure seems to qualify. Beyond the felony plea and a criminal fine of $650 million, Barclays paid nearly triple that in civil fines.

New synergy

Digital publication Brooklyn Magazine, still not acknowledging that it's part of BSE Global besides a discreet "This email was sent to you by BSE Global," this week offered its readers a discount on Brooklyn Museum admission, for those celebrating the Liberty.

I couldn't figure out whether the museum was paying for the advertisement, or whether BSE Global was offering free newsletter space, or what. But they all share the halo.

Others joined in

Selected coverage 

The ticker-tape parade came at an opportune time for [Mayor Eric] Adams, who has been bogged down for weeks with his indictment on corruption charges and a slew of City Hall resignations.

“It's about the greatest city on the globe having a bald-headed, earring-wearing mayor being able to lead this city with everyday people who make this city what it is," he said.
Gothamist, A sea of seafoam: NY Liberty fans thrilled as thousands march up Broadway for championship parade, Oct. 24:
Many spectators said they were excited for the championship, the heightened interest in the WNBA, and the way the Liberty's players have become role models for young girls.
Indicted Mayor Can't Rain on the Liberty's Parade, Hell Gate, Oct. 24:
When it came time for the ceremony at City Hall, Adams was seated next to the podium, making small talk with the holder of his political fate, Governor Kathy Hochul. Next to Hochul was Attorney General Letitia James, who has stayed out of the Adams indictment fray (for now). Then, acting almost as a buffer between Adams and his haters, sat State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and then came Adams's political rivals: City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Comptroller Brad Lander, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
The Liberty liberated the city and themselves in full-day championship celebration, The Next Hoops, Oct. 25:
On Thursday, the Liberty became the first women’s sports franchise to be celebrated along the Canyon of Heroes, but not the first women’s sports athletes to receive this honor.
...“I can’t put it into words,” [Liberty star Sabrina] Ionescu told some reporters from her float. “Look at the turnout. I don’t want to get emotional but this is something I can’t even put into words. It’s amazing. I had no idea what to expect but look at this, I get emotional talking about it. What we did for New York is amazing.” 
...For fans who couldn’t attend the parade, the Liberty organized an event to round up their fans for a finale at Barclays Center. The lower bowl was completely full and a few stragglers were sitting in the upper bowl as well.... 
More elected officials spoke including Attorney General Letitia Jamesa who advocated for WNBA players to be paid more and then a speech from Senator Chuck Schumer. Schumer spoke about how much he feels connected to this New York Liberty team as he grew up playing basketball in Brooklyn... 
Then at last the players were introduced but once again their verbal connection to the fans was limited.

(Read the rest of Jackie Powell's insightful coverage.) 

The numbers

WNBA Delivers Record-Setting 2024 Season, the league said in a Sept. 27 press release, noting new records for attendance, viewership, and merchandise sales.

The league had the highest total attendance in 22 years (2,353,735), up 48% from last season, with an average of 9,807 fans per game, up 48% from last season (6,615 fans).

The Liberty averaged 12,729--second to the Indiana Fever (and Caitlin Clark), which averaged 17,036--but that was more than double their 2022 figures. 

The Liberty averaged 15,046 in postseason, and sold out the building, averaging 17,956, in three finals games.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment