Another attempt to keep the Sun here.

[☘️IrishEyes]

Connecticut bids to keep Sun from moving away

The state of Connecticut is proposing buying a minority stake in the Sun at a valuation higher than the WNBA's current $250 million offer in an effort to keep the team from moving away.

www.espn.com

 

[Alydar]

Connecticut bids to keep Sun from moving away

The state of Connecticut is proposing buying a minority stake in the Sun at a valuation higher than the WNBA's current $250 million offer in an effort to keep the team from moving away.

www.espn.com

The W has already said that Boston will be a site in the future and then we will have the same problem the Whalers had and they will relocate.
I also don't like tax dollars going to subsidize the center of downtown Hartford.

 

[cellocgg]

The W has already said that Boston will be a site in the future and then we will have the same problem the Whalers had and they will relocate.
I also don't like tax dollars going to subsidize the center of downtown Hartford.

The Sun and a Boston team can coexist

 

[Alydar]

The Sun and a Boston team can coexist

not for long. Boston and NY would dominate the NY/Boston media market. It's an old problem, of young women and their desire to work in Hartford. The income potential in NY and Boston is immense compared to CT and the cultural activity is two universes. At some point the owner of the team would take it away to a new home in the sun belt, if only for business reasons.

 

[cellocgg]

not for long. Boston and NY would dominate the NY/Boston media market.

Good thing Hartford is in the Connecticut market otherwise your point might make sense

 

[EricLA]

Connecticut just needs to give it up and stop trying to force the W or the team to stay in Connecticut. Be grateful you have a world class college sports program with uber elite hoops teams, not to mention a plethora of other elite sports teams, and an up and coming football program.

And BTW, if the league wants to "punish" Boston at this time with not letting them take a team, since they hadn't previously submitted a formal request for an expansion team, the same should hold true for Hartford. Yeah I get that Hartford is too close to Uncasville and a 2nd Connecticut team would never have been put together, but it smacks a bit of favoritism and WNBA/state "politics".

 

[zls44]

Connecticut just needs to give it up and stop trying to force the W or the team to stay in Connecticut.

…why?

 

[Urshurak]

Has attendance, historically, been good for the Sun?

 

[NoSpamHere]

Connecticut just needs to give it up and stop trying to force the W or the team to stay in Connecticut. Be grateful you have a world class college sports program with uber elite hoops teams, not to mention a plethora of other elite sports teams, and an up and coming football program.

And BTW, if the league wants to "punish" Boston at this time with not letting them take a team, since they hadn't previously submitted a formal request for an expansion team, the same should hold true for Hartford. Yeah I get that Hartford is too close to Uncasville and a 2nd Connecticut team would never have been put together, but it smacks a bit of favoritism and WNBA/state "politics".

You have so many great takes on this board over the years. This is not one of them.

 

[CL82]

Connecticut just needs to give it up and stop trying to force the W or the team to stay in Connecticut. Be grateful you have a world class college sports program with uber elite hoops teams, not to mention a plethora of other elite sports teams, and an up and coming football program.

And BTW, if the league wants to "punish" Boston at this time with not letting them take a team, since they hadn't previously submitted a formal request for an expansion team, the same should hold true for Hartford. Yeah I get that Hartford is too close to Uncasville and a 2nd Connecticut team would never have been put together, but it smacks a bit of favoritism and WNBA/state "politics".

I struggle with the logic behind the WNBA saying Boston didn't request to be an "expansion" franchise therefore someone located in Boston can't buy and "existing" franchise.

Apples and oranges, no?

 

[Dogdude]

And this in a letter from Richard Blumenthal to the WNBA, as reported by Patch:
“Any further attempts by the WNBA to use its considerable governance and market power over the Connecticut Sun to limit or dictate negotiations with the state of Connecticut could be an unreasonable restraint of trade and interference with the market that would violate federal antitrust laws,” Blumenthal writes.
“As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over antitrust matters, I am closely monitoring the WNBA’s actions and will demand investigations and enforcement actions from the appropriate federal authorities if it takes any step to hinder or constrain Connecticut’s negotiations.”

 

[EricLA]

I struggle with the logic behind the WNBA saying Boston didn't request to be an "expansion" franchise therefore someone located in Boston can't buy and "existing" franchise.

Apples and oranges, no?

I don't know. I'm nowhere near an expert, and only know what I've read about it, which isn't a ton. Not sure if it was opinion pieces, or actually based in fact, but I did read that the WNBA didn't want the Sun to move to Boston BECAUSE they were not one of the 10 or so cities who originally submitted an expansion bid request that ultimately went to Golden State, Portland, and Toronto.

My understanding was that IF Boston had been one of the teams to submit the expansion bid at the time the WNBA was considering offers, they they might have been allowed to purchase the Sun. But because they did not, the WNBA was going to block the sale to them in favor of selling it to one of the already established franchise bid cities.

1. City Proposals:
   Cities vying for a franchise submit a detailed proposal or bid to the league.
   
   
2. In-Depth Evaluation:
   The WNBA conducts a robust evaluation of these proposals, assessing how well each city meets the key criteria.
   
   
3. Scoring and Selection:
   Cities that score highly across all the considered factors are selected. The most recent expansion, which added teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, exemplified this thorough process.

GS was already given a team. Then came Portland and Toronto. For the next round, the deadline was January 30 and the following submitted bids (again, for the first 3 rounds, no bid from Boston)

Austin - Group of former Bucks owner Marc Lasry (very deep pockets), Kevin Durant, Fran Harris of the Comets are involved. Will play at UT, but will build a practice facility if they win the bid.

Charlotte - Erica Berman, part of Hornets ownership group leading this bid.

Cleveland - Bid by Dan Gilbert of the Cavs. Bid includes plan to build practice facility.

Denver - Dimond family (any further details on who they are?). Plan is to play in a purpose-built arena.

Detroit - Tom Gores, Pistons, as well as HOFers Chris Webber and Grant Hill, Lions owner. Will play at Little Caesars (Pistons) but will build dedicated practice facility.

Houston - Tillman Fertitta, Rockets. Will play at Toyota Center. No mention of practice facilities.

KC - KC Current owners, Brittany and Patrick Mahomes. Will be anchor tenant at T Mobile Center and will build separate practice facility.

Nashville - Predators owner. Would be called Tennessee Summit, in honor of Pat. Candace Parker, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Peyton Manning part of ownership. No other details

Philly - Sixers ownership group. City plans on new arena for Sixers/WNBA team. No mention of practice facility.

For me, I think a team in Boston is a no-brainer, but maybe they need to do more homework and put more effort into following what the WNBA is asking for, instead of trying to circumvent and jump in with a purchase of a team who wants to sell... But if I have read everything correctly, the WNBA wants the sun to move to Austin, Charlotte, Denver, Houston, KC, or Nashville (please never Nashville). I'm rooting for Denver or Kansas City.

One last note - now would be a great time for the WNBA to start laying down the law for current teams who are playing in ridiculously small arenas. Atlanta Dream - Gateway Center Arena (3,500 seats) and Washington Mystics - CareFirst Arena (4,200 seats). Both are a joke. Get a real arena or lose your franchise.

 

[CL82]

I don't know. I'm nowhere near an expert, and only know what I've read about it, which isn't a ton. Not sure if it was opinion pieces, or actually based in fact, but I did read that the WNBA didn't want the Sun to move to Boston BECAUSE they were not one of the 10 or so cities who originally submitted an expansion bid request that ultimately went to Golden State, Portland, and Toronto.

My understanding was that IF Boston had been one of the teams to submit the expansion bid at the time the WNBA was considering offers, they they might have been allowed to purchase the Sun. But because they did not, the WNBA was going to block the sale to them in favor of selling it to one of the already established franchise bid cities.

1. City Proposals:
   Cities vying for a franchise submit a detailed proposal or bid to the league.
   
   
2. In-Depth Evaluation:
   The WNBA conducts a robust evaluation of these proposals, assessing how well each city meets the key criteria.
   
   
3. Scoring and Selection:
   Cities that score highly across all the considered factors are selected. The most recent expansion, which added teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, exemplified this thorough process.

GS was already given a team. Then came Portland and Toronto. For the next round, the deadline was January 30 and the following submitted bids (again, for the first 3 rounds, no bid from Boston)

Austin - Group of former Bucks owner Marc Lasry (very deep pockets), Kevin Durant, Fran Harris of the Comets are involved. Will play at UT, but will build a practice facility if they win the bid.

Charlotte - Erica Berman, part of Hornets ownership group leading this bid.

Cleveland - Bid by Dan Gilbert of the Cavs. Bid includes plan to build practice facility.

Denver - Dimond family (any further details on who they are?). Plan is to play in a purpose-built arena.

Detroit - Tom Gores, Pistons, as well as HOFers Chris Webber and Grant Hill, Lions owner. Will play at Little Caesars (Pistons) but will build dedicated practice facility.

Houston - Tillman Fertitta, Rockets. Will play at Toyota Center. No mention of practice facilities.

KC - KC Current owners, Brittany and Patrick Mahomes. Will be anchor tenant at T Mobile Center and will build separate practice facility.

Nashville - Predators owner. Would be called Tennessee Summit, in honor of Pat. Candace Parker, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Peyton Manning part of ownership. No other details

Philly - Sixers ownership group. City plans on new arena for Sixers/WNBA team. No mention of practice facility.

For me, I think a team in Boston is a no-brainer, but maybe they need to do more homework and put more effort into following what the WNBA is asking for, instead of trying to circumvent and jump in with a purchase of a team who wants to sell... But if I have read everything correctly, the WNBA wants the sun to move to Austin, Charlotte, Denver, Houston, KC, or Nashville (please never Nashville). I'm rooting for Denver or Kansas City.

One last note - now would be a great time for the WNBA to start laying down the law for current teams who are playing in ridiculously small arenas. Atlanta Dream - Gateway Center Arena (3,500 seats) and Washington Mystics - CareFirst Arena (4,200 seats). Both are a joke. Get a real arena or lose your franchise.

Yeah, I still see expansion in buying an existent franchise as being two different things. If you want to say open a new KFC franchise, there may be limits on where you can open it based upon people who already have franchises, but if you want to buy the franchise, I already own that's between you and me. That's the way I view it in any event.

 

[CTBballfan243]

And this in a letter from Richard Blumenthal to the WNBA, as reported by Patch:
“Any further attempts by the WNBA to use its considerable governance and market power over the Connecticut Sun to limit or dictate negotiations with the state of Connecticut could be an unreasonable restraint of trade and interference with the market that would violate federal antitrust laws,” Blumenthal writes.
“As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over antitrust matters, I am closely monitoring the WNBA’s actions and will demand investigations and enforcement actions from the appropriate federal authorities if it takes any step to hinder or constrain Connecticut’s negotiations.”

The WNBA will laugh at him, Just like ACC and everyone else.

 

[EricLA]

Yeah, I still see expansion in buying an existent franchise as being two different things. If you want to say open a new KFC franchise, there may be limits on where you can open it based upon people who already have franchises, but if you want to buy the franchise, I already own that's between you and me. That's the way I view it in any event.

We're saying the same thing. I think Boston should be able to buy the Sun. Especially when they were offering something like $325M while the WNBA was offering $250M to buy them so they could sell the franchise to one of the preferred cities.

 

[sun]

I think that the state of CT is on the right warpath by making an offer to become a minority owner. That's exactly what the Minnesota Twins owner recently did when he failed to find a buyer. Instead he sold a minority stake at a valuation slightly higher than the asking price so that he could cover $400 million in loans that were made in large part due to borrowing during the covid years.
Similiarly the Sun have loans due that were pushed out to 2030 & 2031 prior to their attempt to sell the team.
Then the state's offer could make it the proverbial white knight that could satisfy the tribe & the league & the fans in CT.
After CT was duped by Kraft & the Patriots, hopefully the state has found a way to hold on to a pro franchise for once.
Since CT has lost businesses to Boston (such as GE), it would be quite an accomplishment to be able to keep the Sun in CT.
The Mohegan casino can't leave CT, which gives them every reason to fight on behalf of the state to protect their name and to reinforce their goodwill towards the CT residents who compose the majority of customers who support their casino empire.
The tribe needs to ffght to maintain their reputation of being good stewards for the team.

 

[Skeets]

And this in a letter from Richard Blumenthal to the WNBA, as reported by Patch:
“Any further attempts by the WNBA to use its considerable governance and market power over the Connecticut Sun to limit or dictate negotiations with the state of Connecticut could be an unreasonable restraint of trade and interference with the market that would violate federal antitrust laws,” Blumenthal writes.
“As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over antitrust matters, I am closely monitoring the WNBA’s actions and will demand investigations and enforcement actions from the appropriate federal authorities if it takes any step to hinder or constrain Connecticut’s negotiations.”

I'm not a real big Blumenthal fan, but this is a good position. If there's interference with private ownership and transactions between individuals, then it stinks of antitrust. How many WNBA teams have been bought and sold since the beginning? But the powers that be think it's OK to interfere with this one? When do you own something and when do you don't own it?

Just let the tribe make the best decision for themselves with the team that they OWN.