09-30-2021, 05:15 PM
(09-30-2021, 03:44 PM)WBB fan Wrote: I agree -- marketing and TV availability are crucial. No fans? Well, how can you be interested if there is little media coverage. Sports Illustrated, for example, had a great article a while back about how the WNBA doesn't get attention etc., and in the same issue, no article about on-going games. Amazing! The SF Chron mostly puts WNBA on the back page in the Digest Section. Fans follow what they think is popular and what they CAN follow -- and they won't if the media don't give decent cover. Yes, the WNBA can succeed and will IF they are respected and get the attention they deserve. The game is wonderful and when people watch, they are impressed. As for the NBA subsidizing, I'm not so sure about that in all cases. To some extent, it depends on acocunting.
The NBA loses $12 million per year on the WNBA and has for decades. With regard to marketing and TV availability, the NBA has spent many millions on ads and promotions on behalf of the WNBA and has structured its TV deals whereby in essence they are paying ABC and ESPN to televise WNBA games, so they have really invested in every sense. At some point people either watch the games or they don't. National awareness of the WNBA is very high, but you can't force people to become fans.