OT: Sun will be setting in a year. Moving to Boston.

[DSquiz]

I think Boston is a better location for the players. There’s not much for a 22-35yo to do in downtown Hartford and I don’t see a Connecticut based team being able to attract the most talented free agents.

…I don’t have the budget for 22 home games/parking in Hartford in addition to attending UConn games.

In my opinion, the Connecticut Sun worked at the casino for so long because they had a good team and also had many fans that enjoyed doing a little gambling or people watching before/after the game. I see attendance being lower in Hartford (except for games that Paige, CC or Aja Wilson are playing in).

As a long time fan of the Connecticut Sun (and season or 6 pack ticket holder until last year) - I’ll be sad to see them go. … I will catch a game or 2 in Boston if they end up there.

I’d bet it’s the exact opposite. I’ve never been to a Sun game because I’m not a casino fan and Mohegan is so far away.

If they move to Hartford I’ll be at games all the time and my friends (30’s) have said the same. You can take the train in, bar hop, take the kids to the playground/park, museums etc. See what the Yard Goats have achieved.

In Boston they’re the 10th team to pay attention to and literally can’t even play in TD Garden for the first few months because of Bruins/Celtics overlap (the bid said this which is why they’re talking using Providence too). CT has the best women’s fans in the world. The Sun belong in Hartford.

 

[Zanzman]

I’d bet it’s the exact opposite. I’ve never been to a Sun game because I’m not a casino fan and Mohegan is so far away.

If they move to Hartford I’ll be at games all the time and my friends (30’s) have said the same. You can take the train in, bar hop, take the kids to the playground/park, museums etc. See what the Yard Goats have achieved.

In Boston they’re the 10th team to pay attention to and literally can’t even play in TD Garden for the first few months because of Bruins/Celtics overlap (the bid said this which is why they’re talking using Providence too). CT has the best women’s fans in the world. The Sun belong in Hartford.

No train
From Manchester

 

[cellocgg]

WNBA frowns on new bid for Sun by Hartford group

The WNBA is opposed to a second bid for the Connecticut Sun that would move the team to Hartford, sources said, as the league remains intent on directing the team to one of nine cities that lost out on expansion last month.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

 

[Bigboote]

“If you don’t do what we want you to do, we’ll shoot ourselves in the foot.” At least that’s what I get from the W in the article in the post above this one.

 

[superjohn]

I think Boston is a better location for the players. There’s not much for a 22-35yo to do in downtown Hartford and I don’t see a Connecticut based team being able to attract the most talented free agents.

…I don’t have the budget for 22 home games/parking in Hartford in addition to attending UConn games.

In my opinion, the Connecticut Sun worked at the casino for so long because they had a good team and also had many fans that enjoyed doing a little gambling or people watching before/after the game. I see attendance being lower in Hartford (except for games that Paige, CC or Aja Wilson are playing in).

As a long time fan of the Connecticut Sun (and season or 6 pack ticket holder until last year) - I’ll be sad to see them go. … I will catch a game or 2 in Boston if they end up there.

You think there's a lot going on in Green Bay? NFL is a way bigger deal than the WNBA and I don't hear players whining about being there.

Boston nightlife has always been pretty bad.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

You think there's a lot going on in Green Bay? NFL is a way bigger deal than the WNBA and I don't hear players whining about being there.

Boston nightlife has always been pretty bad.

Agreed to a degree, but what athletes are looking for are rich local markets to optimize their personal brands.

 

[CashewCrew]

WNBA frowns on new bid for Sun by Hartford group

The WNBA is opposed to a second bid for the Connecticut Sun that would move the team to Hartford, sources said, as the league remains intent on directing the team to one of nine cities that lost out on expansion last month.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

Why would Hartford have submitted an application for an expansion team? Do they think they’re going to give two teams to the state of CT? Stupid argument

 

[ScottBonz]

They just don’t want the team in hartford so they are going to claim that it’s a market move just to deny it and try to get one of the competing cities to buy it. Hartford didn’t submit because they didn’t think it was a relocation, just a sale.

 

[The Viking]

They just don’t want the team in hartford so they are going to claim that it’s a market move just to deny it and try to get one of the competing cities to buy it. Hartford didn’t submit because they didn’t think it was a relocation, just a sale.

Bingo. The league probably loved CT involvement back when fewer people gave a crap about the league. but now that these franchises are getting hot, Silver and company probably see CT involvement as more of a nuisance. Although adding a relocation fee to the bid may make them hold their nose.

 

[kibblesnbits]

Most league charters provide for teams having an exclusive territory. If another team wants to move in they have to get approval and indemnify the original team. Hartford has to be in the Sun’s region. If it is, the league would be hard-pressed to claim in court that moving the team there is a relocation.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

It'd be interesting to see how many Sun fans/attendees come in from Hartford county. Might be able to argue it's not really a relocation at all, just an arena upgrade.

 

[Zanzman]

It'd be interesting to see how many Sun fans/attendees come in from Hartford county. Might be able to argue it's not really a relocation at all, just an arena upgrade.

You consider tge civic center an upgrade?

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

You consider tge civic center an upgrade?

Yes.

 

[mainerhuski]

I wonder how the new Boston franchise will handle parking for the fans, especially season ticket holders. I live near Hartford. I wouldn't mind driving to Boston for games, but I have no idea where I would park. If they want to sell tickets (especially season tickets) to fans outside the geographic range of the MBTA, they will have to do something about reasonable parking options.

Maybe Amtrak will add a Hartford/Boston train on game days.

 

[WFFL]

If the W has anything to say about it they will be in Houston instead.....sucks we can't have all 3 .

 

[Dogdude]

Dom Amore said in a radio interview the other morning that he was betting on Boston, simply because the NBA sponsors would want a greater presence in a major market. He also said that a forced move to Houston would never survive in court, as there is no precedence for that as well as the fact that this is a sale of an existing franchise, not an expansion. I would doubt any league would want to face a lawsuit that further degrades (or solidifies, depending on which desk you sit behind) any antitrust rulings from the past.

 

[DSquiz]

Dom Amore said in a radio interview the other morning that he was betting on Boston, simply because the NBA sponsors would want a greater presence in a major market. He also said that a forced move to Houston would never survive in court, as there is no precedence for that as well as the fact that this is a sale of an existing franchise, not an expansion. I would doubt any league would want to face a lawsuit that further degrades (or solidifies, depending on which desk you sit behind) any antitrust rulings from the past.

Mohegan sources say they’d prefer to sell to an in state bidder. If it’s between Boston and Hartford, Hartford should win with equal offers. So I’d bet the NBA forces Houston or Lamont makes Hartford happen.

 

[cellocgg]

Dom Amore said in a radio interview the other morning that he was betting on Boston, simply because the NBA sponsors would want a greater presence in a major market. He also said that a forced move to Houston would never survive in court, as there is no precedence for that as well as the fact that this is a sale of an existing franchise, not an expansion. I would doubt any league would want to face a lawsuit that further degrades (or solidifies, depending on which desk you sit behind) any antitrust rulings from the past.

If the WNBA wanted the Sun in Boston they would be in Boston already

 

[WFFL]

If the WNBA wanted the Sun in Boston they would be in Boston already

Exactly the WNBA will have the NBA's backing in making the Sun head to Houston . They want to maximize their profits with the relocation fee and the sell . Houston being the flagship franchise for this league's upstart will overpower the Hartford / Boston bids imo.

 

[baggerbob]

Dom Amore said in a radio interview the other morning that he was betting on Boston, simply because the NBA sponsors would want a greater presence in a major market. He also said that a forced move to Houston would never survive in court, as there is no precedence for that as well as the fact that this is a sale of an existing franchise, not an expansion. I would doubt any league would want to face a lawsuit that further degrades (or solidifies, depending on which desk you sit behind) any antitrust rulings from the past.

I home the owner of the Celtics talked to the owners of the Boston Garden before he talked to The Commissioner. They might not like the idea on losing approximately 22 fixed dates each year.

 

[Dogdude]

1. I'm still iffy on the legality of the Houston move. No league has forced a move to a different location. They can approve a sale to a different owner in a different location, but I'd be surprised if in the franchise agreement it allows the league to yank franchise ownership rights like this. Team ownership would be a poor investment; build a team and a market, then have it taken from you when you decide to sell? They might incentivize the Sun to sell to Houston, but that's a different story. In any case, obviously there's some legal wrangling going on that's more complicated than the league would like, or it would already be over.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

A

1. I'm still iffy on the legality of the Houston move. No league has forced a move to a different location. They can approve a sale to a different owner in a different location, but I'd be surprised if in the franchise agreement it allows the league to yank franchise ownership rights like this. Team ownership would be a poor investment; build a team and a market, then have it taken from you when you decide to sell? They might incentivize the Sun to sell to Houston, but that's a different story. In any case, obviously there's some legal wrangling going on that's more complicated than the league would like, or it would already be over.

Agreed - and if I'm an existing WNBA owner I wouldn't want this precedent as you'd be walking on eggshells if your revenue dipped.