OT: - Connecticut Sun hired investment bank Allen & Company to explore the sale of the franchise | Page 3 | The Boneyard

OT: Connecticut Sun hired investment bank Allen & Company to explore the sale of the franchise

BRS24 said:
The WNBA provides either team housing, or a stipend. Article below available in reader view


Section 1 of Article XI under player-related expenses: ​
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“During the Regular Season and playoffs, players will be provided with the following options with respect to housing in the home cities of their WNBA Teams: (i) staying in housing provided by the Team, or (ii) receiving a monthly housing stipend as set forth below with respect to each Team.”​
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The stipend is adjusted for each market, with built-in increases each year since the CBA was adopted in 2020 (the CBA runs through 2027, but the players union can opt out after 2025). For example, in a market fairly comparable to the Bay Area, the New York Liberty players are eligible to receive a monthly stipend of $2,583 this season and $2,647 next season. In contrast, Atlanta Dream players can receive only $1,263 this season and $1,294 in 2025. A league spokesman had no details on what “housing provided by the team,” might entail.​
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Like I said, the players will complacent n that they can’t afford to live in Boston. I guess they will be ok as long as they don’t mind living in a dump. They might be able to find something decent for 3k a month.
 
CTBballfan243 said:
Like I said, the players will complacent n that they can’t afford to live in Boston. I guess they will be ok as long as they don’t mind living in a dump. They might be able to find something decent for 3k a month.
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Have you even looked at prices in Boston? There are decent places for reasonable rates. The T also goes out into affordable suburbs so that getting downtown is a short train ride away.
 
HuskyNan said:
Have you even looked at prices in Boston? There are decent places for reasonable rates. The T also goes out into affordable suburbs so that getting downtown is a short train ride away.
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Actually lived in Boston for 5 years. Both daughters live there now. So yes, I know what decent places rent for in decent areas of Boston.
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
I wish I cared about this but I don't. In recent times the WNBA has turned into an ugly soap opera with basketball secondary.
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The WNBA is just taking a page from the WWE marketing book. The Angle Reece/ Clark stuff is all just staged for rating. The WNBA will take any press it can get.
 
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To say that I am surprised, would be a lie. Connecticut has never been a major sports league state. Yes, the Whalers were the best they could get, a few double AA teams, but nothing higher. The Whalers bolted after a number of years, because Hartford/The State, could/would not afford the improvements to the Civic Center. In early 2000s, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, deftly used John Rowland to get the state of Massachusetts to agree to their requests to help finance and build the new Patriots stadium in Foxboro, leaving Connecticut looking foolish. Even as we speak the City of Norwich is trying to unload Dodd Stadium, because it's a white elephant, and not bringing in the money that was hoped for. The old saying of, " where there's smoke, there's fire", is very telling. The Sun is just a sideline factor at The Mohegan. A group of people enjoy it, but it's not a huge money maker, and that is what the casino is for, making money for the tribe and it's investors. Even the large parcel of property across the river, on the grounds of the old state hospital, is languishing. Plans for a huge theme styled park, another hotel, more shops, are stalled as of now. Sadly, the Mohegan Sun ball club may be sold to bring in more money for other ventures, which will be more profitable. This is, in no way a political rant, but it's, as they say, ITS ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMIN'S. My advice to those of you who enjoy watching the Sun play ball, is enjoy it while you can.
 
CTBballfan243 said:
The WNBA is just taking a page from the WWE marketing book. The Angle Reece/ Clark stuff is all just staged for rating. The WNBA will take any press it can get.
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I've heard weirder things, but I'm not up for what they are selling act or no. I think you are giving them to much credit. Why would they ban Chennedy Carter for blind siding Clark?
 
CTBballfan243 said:
Actually lived in Boston for 5 years. Both daughters live there now. So yes, I know what decent places rent for in decent areas of Boston.
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It may be that your info may be dated but people looking for housing in Boston itself may soon enjoy an end to the 10-15 increase in annual housing costs because the commercial real estate is cratering as occupancy rates tumble. While it lags the commercial usually what follows is the same phenomenon in residential rentals. But as of this writing a fast rise in housing costs continues and it is sorta puzzling.
 
CTBballfan243 said:
Like I said, the players will complacent n that they can’t afford to live in Boston. I guess they will be ok as long as they don’t mind living in a dump. They might be able to find something decent for 3k a month.
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Young people by and large would rather live in a fun dumpy area than a cheap boring one.
Southeastern CT aint it if you’re young and single and a 6’5 woman stands out like a sore thumb.
 
Moving the team to either Hartford or Boston still means building a dedicated practice facility because that’s the shiny toy the players want….
 
I think that a possible solution would be for the new owner to arrange to play the WNBA games in May and June at either Hartford or Mohegan Sun (maybe have some games in each venue), and then play exclusively in Boston in July, August, and September. The team would have a "New England" name, rather than either Boston ot Connecticut.

That would take advantage of Connecticut's status as the (women's) "basketball capital of the world" and give some attention to the longtime supporters of the Connecticut Sun, while still playing most games in a major metropolitan area. It would also sidestep schedule conflicts with the Celtics and Bruins during their playoff months.

The practice facility (new or existing) could be in the western suburbs of Boston, which is within reasonable driving distance of all three game venues.
 
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I recently read ( or saw on tv news ???) that the Celtics are exploring getting their own arena in Boston. They want more control of the arena revenue. Who knows, probably just a negotiation ploy with the Delaware North who owns the Bruins and the TD Bank Garden.
 
CTBballfan243 said:
I recently read ( or saw on tv news ???) that the Celtics are exploring getting their own arena in Boston. They want more control of the arena revenue. Who knows, probably just a negotiation ploy with the Delaware North who owns the Bruins and the TD Bank Garden.
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Yes, that idea has been mentioned. The owners of the Gahden, are not even from the Boston area. The Jacob's family are from Buffalo. As to the building of the arena, a lot of hurdles will have to be jumped. City of Boston, state of Massachusetts specifically. Also, the NBA. The new owner of the Celtics will be on the hook for well over 500 million dollars, because of all the contracts and the NBA tax penalties. I'm not sure if they are willing to take on the WNBA franchise, in lieu of their situation.
 
Horsebrnhil said:
Yes, that idea has been mentioned. The owners of the Gahden, are not even from the Boston area. The Jacob's family are from Buffalo. As to the building of the arena, a lot of hurdles will have to be jumped. City of Boston, state of Massachusetts specifically. Also, the NBA. The new owner of the Celtics will be on the hook for well over 500 million dollars, because of all the contracts and the NBA tax penalties. I'm not sure if they are willing to take on the WNBA franchise, in lieu of their situation.
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You are assuming that the Celtics would be the owner of any WNBA franchise in Boston. Why couldn't some other investors own the WNBA franchise and contract for the use of TD Garden for their games?
 
If not Hartford I would be happy with relocating to Springfield and have The New England Blizzard.
 
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Dogdude said:
Nice...Or something distinctly New England...The New England Lobster Rolls.
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If the Sun are sold it would probably be to one of the franchises that are looking for an expansion team. That way the league gets expansion into 2 new markets.
 
JoePgh said:
You are assuming that the Celtics would be the owner of any WNBA franchise in Boston. Why couldn't some other investors own the WNBA franchise and contract for the use of TD Garden for their games?
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Wasn't having WNBA teams in same cities as NBA teams supposed to drum up support. Mohegan Sun was one of the exceptions to the rule. Having a team based at the Casino was supposed to capitalize on two benefits. 1, The Casino and its gambling draw, and the State interest in Women's basketball, specifically UCONN Women's reputation. Because the Sun couldn't approach the winning successes of the UCONN Women's team, interest has waned. Would moving them to Boston, Springfield, or Hartford change anything?
Most likely no.
 
Horsebrnhil said:
Wasn't having WNBA teams in same cities as NBA teams supposed to drum up support. Mohegan Sun was one of the exceptions to the rule. Having a team based at the Casino was supposed to capitalize on two benefits. 1, The Casino and its gambling draw, and the State interest in Women's basketball, specifically UCONN Women's reputation. Because the Sun couldn't approach the winning successes of the UCONN Women's team, interest has waned. Would moving them to Boston, Springfield, or Hartford change anything?
Most likely no.
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The original reason was that the NBA teams often owned the arenas and already had a local infrastructure (management, marketing, sales) that could be repurposed for the W season for less additional cost.
 
Sun now valued at $180M

IMG_9384.jpeg
 
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Vowelguy said:
No chance it goes to Springfield. Waaaay too small.
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While certainly drawbacks, why not relocate the Suns to NY? So what if there are two NY W teams? There's the Rangers, Islanders, and Devils, Giants and Jets, Knicks and Nets all surviving in a huge NY sports market. (And, really, the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville CT is not the NY market.) Would it take away from the Liberty's base? Maybe a little but the NY market seems big enough for two W teams. OK, ready to hear all reasonable objections.
 
Uh oh .Left out the two biggest rivalries: Yankees-Mets. A Liberty-Sun rivalry would be a healthy thing and bring out the NY fans on both sides.
 
WiseWillie said:
While certainly drawbacks, why not relocate the Suns to NY? So what if there are two NY W teams? There's the Rangers, Islanders, and Devils, Giants and Jets, Knicks and Nets all surviving in a huge NY sports market. (And, really, the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville CT is not the NY market.) Would it take away from the Liberty's base? Maybe a little but the NY market seems big enough for two W teams. OK, ready to hear all reasonable objections.
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For a small league, the point of expansion is to expand to new markets, bringing in new fans, TV audiences, and sponsors.

Not to mention that it would only dilute the Liberty support. If every game were selling out and driving scalpers prices to $500 then yes the market could support another team. Nowhere near that. Especially when there are so many untapped markets.
 
Forego said:
Yes. A large metropolitan area is required like Uncasville. :)
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When the teams were worth $3M, then the Mohegans could take a gamble on their location. Not to mention that at worst the team could be a loss leader — attracting people to the casino plus free regular advertising.

A $200M team is not going to choose to locate in Springfield. There’s no way it would make sufficient revenue to justify that investment.
 
Forego said:
Yes. A large metropolitan area is required like Uncasville. :)
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Well one thing to be considered is the Sun fans drag a lot of other revenue into the casino. I know I have to pry my wife away from the slots. We wouldn't be there otherwise.

BTW maybe the worst meal I ever ate was at "Geno's Fast Break" (no longer there). I had a partially frozen Philly cheese steak (what else would you order at "Geno's"?) Mrs. Skeets broke a tooth on some kind of chicken sandwich.
 
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