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Post by libertyfan2020 on Oct 8, 2020 9:50:57 GMT -5
It's really mindblowing that the league hasn't been in Tennessee yet(Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis). NWSL will likely pass the WNBA in terms of # of teams by 2023.
Starts with reviving the Comets for me. Though I'd understand if a NorCal expansion team came first.
Honestly though, I'm starting to be convinced that the League won't ever have more than 12 teams. If Engelbert/the League wants each team to get its financial affairs in order first, expansion is never gonna happen.
If there's an ownership group with deep pockets wanting a team, they'll grant the expansion team regardless of location. Just hasn't happened since the Dream joined.
If there's an ownership group with deep pockets wanting a team, they'll grant the expansion team regardless of location. Just hasn't happened since the Dream joined.
And the fact that a serious ownership group hasn't materialized 13 years now isn't a great sign for the future... though that could change now with the League's image starting to make a good impression on society – let's hope so.
Honestly feel like we're holding on to the twelve we have and have been doing so for years. What if MGM didn't want the Stars? What if the owners of the Tulsa Shock didn't want to move the team to Dallas? What if Joe Tsai and Magic Johnson didn't buy the Liberty and Sparks? We could easily be down to just eight teams now.
It seems that for a sports league to really be a success, it takes 20-30 teams competing. This is true for NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL and MLS here in the US. Around the world, a lot of the most prominent soccer leagues also have a lot of teams, based on my quick look. Now, it may be a chicken and egg problem - what comes first - interest in the sport (and in owning a team) or having teams in all the bigger cities? MLS seems to be betting on the idea that if you have a lot teams the entire league will become more successful. It does seem that the rise of the NBA from a small 8 team league in 1960 coincided with the growth in the number of teams over the next 20 to 30 years. Of course, a lot of other things were happening in those days as well that may have fueled the growth of the sport.
In terms of just talent, I think the WNBA would be stable at 16 teams. it was something I was hoping for by the 25th anniversary, but no. Might even be a stretch to get to 16 teams by the 30th anniversary.
I’m skeptical we’ll get to 16 by the 40th anniversary, though once we see a 13th franchise that may make the situation more amenable for further expansion.
The MLS itself is interesting. There have been several articles the past couple years questioning whether it’s profitable. It seems to me that most teams consistently aren’t profitable, but the owners care more about the value of their franchises, which have never been higher (here’s one of the most recent articles, from June: sports.yahoo.com/whats-behind-the-rapid-inflation-in-the-value-of-mls-franchises-193841017.html ). And it’s no secret how rapidly MLS has been expanding - it’s about to be at 30 teams!
So I’d say the W’s main problems are both lack of profitability and lack of franchise value. Like Randy said, it’s a chicken-or-the-egg issue. Would expansion help raise franchise value? Or would current franchises have to gain value in order for expansion to even make sense? I wouldn’t know haha.
Last Edit: Oct 26, 2021 16:51:33 GMT -5 by Deleted
In comparison to the NBA, they were at 17 teams by their 25th Anniversary & were at 22 teams by their 30th Anniversary. Though further NBA expansion isn't on the horizon, it's believed that Seattle & Las Vegas would be the next two expansion teams in the NBA.
I just wish we had some fresh blood in the league because it starts to get stale with the same teams over and over. And yes, I know you need the money to get it done.
formerly pickdiamondmillerchallenge lol formerly dmillerturnprochallenge ha formerly bostonturnprochallenge lol
I just wish we had some fresh blood in the league because it starts to get stale with the same teams over and over. And yes, I know you need the money to get it done.
And considering the current state of the ecomony, I doubt we get any interested owners soon. Let's hope the league can stick with 12.
Post by libertyfan2020 on Oct 10, 2020 9:10:02 GMT -5
It's a shame that it's been 12 years since the last expansion team, which was then followed by the Comets folding(2008), then the Monarchs folding(2009). The league was back and forth between 14 & 13 teams from 2003-2009. Still hoping the Warriors and Joe Lacob will invest in an expansion team soon.
To bang my drum again, as long as the value of a WNBA franchise is zero, contraction is more likely than expansion.
I don't think a team will drop, just to make that clear, as San Francisco would take any straggler, but it makes little sense to lose $2 million a year on a business that does not appreciate in value.
In retrospect, the NWSL is on target to expand to 14 teams by 2023. There's multiple potential ownership groups interested currently. Most of these groups are MLS teams. Just a shame there's no interest from any NBA teams to take on a women's franchise as well.
Post by libertyfan2020 on Oct 10, 2020 10:24:37 GMT -5
Most WNBA teams lose money. Not sure what the numbers are now, but it used to be that the 15th player riding the bench in the NBA's salary is enough to operate a WNBA franchise.