re: WNBA Star Erica Wheeler thinks you're all broke losers

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I really appreciate you taking the time to discuss it with me, but I can’t make any of it make sense

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I really don't know who is watching either. I guess a million viewers per game isnt much when u factor in restaurants and bars and there being almost 400 million people in this country.

The math makes as much sense to me as companies dropping almost a trillion dollars into AI that they have yet to figure out how to profitize though. They are betting on the future. At least the WNBA is bringing in some revenue and the loss margin last year wasnt that high.

Quite a few of the owners own the arena so it gives them something to fill it with for part of the calender year.

Those are the hidden financials where we dont get to see what a stadium owner charges his own team to "lease" his own stadium.

Arena Ownership/Control: Many of the established teams (e.g., Indiana Fever, Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Washington Mystics) have owners who own or control their respective arenas.

Expansion Teams: The three new expansion teams announced in June 2025 (Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia) all have majority ownership groups that own the arena where they will play.

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What exactly is the “future” here?

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More teams, games, revenue just like every other league. NHL is going to 84 games next year.

It is interesting that the next 3 expansion franchises owners all will own the stadium and team.

They can double dip by leasing out the stadium to their team and still owning the concessions and tickets and all.

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Did you miss where it gets double the viewers per game compared to the NHL? NHL has a billion dollar per year US tv deal with half the viewers per game.

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You already shot holes in this argument. There is major NHL interest in Canada, and don’t think it stops there.

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My prediction is that even with the absolute full court press the media has done, viewership falls off over the next 3 or so seasons.

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I really appreciate you taking the time to discuss it with me, but I can’t make any of it make sense. It all seems like fake numbers and simply donations to a leftist cause, essentially.

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I tend to agree. This kind of reminds me of the NFT craze. Things became valuable because someone said they were valuable. Your average person was not selling NFTs for thousands of dollars. These teams are apparently worth billions, but I’m not convinced that’s “real” money. Everything is based off some projection. If you look at WNBA attendance, the novelty kind of wore off after 5 years. There has been a surge the last two seasons, for obvious reasons.

I also think it’s not really a secret that the league is trying to market more feminine superstars. I think it’s smart, but I’m not sure it has lasting power.

As noted, these new teams are owned by the people that own the arena. Any lease agreement could be a gift deal, and you turn a profit because someone at ESPN was dumb enough to give you this massive TV deal that - checks notes - is basically packaged with the NBA like the league itself.

The interest is all fake. Sure, there are WNBA fans, maybe even good WNBA cities. The ONLY reason the bubble didn’t pop is because the NBA funds it. It’s all investment into social causes and optics at this point.

Has any women’s league been successful in terms of turning a profit? How is the women’s soccer league doing?

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As noted, these new teams are owned by the people that own the arena. Any lease agreement could be a gift deal

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Ah yes, the old "ill screw myself out of money so the business shows a profit" move that billionaires are so famous for

Its in their interest to show a loss to keep contracts down, see every sports league ownership group ever.

Im sure all these WNBA owners would publicly agree with you though and tell us how they are being taken to the cleaners and need some public funding for their next arena.

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WNBA will go bankrupt soon enough.

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Silver and enough pearl-clutching woke NBA owners won't let that happen. Hell, the loss would be a tax benefit.

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NBA will continue to subsidize the league in perpetuity

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How much longer will the NBPA put up those millions
being lost to the WNBA?

Don't think the union put up with it in "perpetuity"

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think they’re fine with the losses and it’s probably explained to them in a way that gives them no choice.

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Pretty powerful union and 2nd only to the MLBPA when it comes to concessions.I think they'll have a choice but they could just require the owners to pay the WNBA out of their portion of the revenue split.

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Ah yes, the old "ill screw myself out of money so the business shows a profit" move that billionaires are so famous for

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Maybe I’m missing something. But if I own a team AND an arena…how do I make money when I use the team to pay for the lease? The money from the TV deal is already yours. Paying yourself from your own money isn’t a net loss or gain.

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The national basketball players association doesnt lose a single cent to the WNBA. What in the hell are you talking about?

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LOL

Do you not understand the WNBA is losing millions?
And the REVENUE to support those lost millions are coming from the NBA?

Pretty simple.