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WNBA groups have began making strikes to capitalize on the recognition of Caitlin Clark.
WNBA groups have began making strikes to capitalize on the recognition of Caitlin Clark.
Some are reserving larger venues for when Clark and the Indiana Fever come to city.
The Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have moved their video games in opposition to the Fever to larger arenas. The numbers Clark generated in faculty signifies it’s a sensible transfer.
Whereas at Iowa, when the No. 1 choose within the draft and the Hawkeyes went on the highway this previous season, they performed in entrance of sellout crowds or set attendance information.
“She helps ticket gross sales, so I feel it’s a very nice time to have eyes. She’s going to be an elite participant,” Aces coach Becky Hammon stated. “She has been in faculty. She’s accomplished stuff in faculty that no one else has. She’s going to be an excellent participant within the W. There’s little question about it.
“So the extra folks we will pack into the constructing to cheer in opposition to her, we’ll take it, though I don’t know in the event that they’ll be cheering in opposition to her,” Hammon quipped. “I assume they could be cheering for her.”
The 2-time reigning WNBA champion Aces relocated their recreation on Might 25 from the 12,000-seat Michelob Extremely Enviornment to the 18,000-seat T-Cellular Enviornment.
Aces gamers credit score Clark, but additionally know that their very own crew, which has received the previous two WNBA championships, has accomplished an excellent job growing attendance at video games over the previous few seasons.
“We’re not rolling out any pink carpet. We’re right here to be a enterprise and promote lots of tickets. Kudos to her (Clark), however we even have accomplished that in earlier years in massive video games as nicely,” Las Vegas guard Kelsey Plum stated. “There are lots of people that play basketball. Individuals are coming to look at A’ja Wilson. Individuals are going to look at Chelsea Grey.
“That’s not a slight on anybody, however I’m saying that’s not for her. We performed in Chicago final yr. We offered it out final yr.”
Clark will make her preseason debut on Friday night time at Dallas — a recreation that’s already offered out.
The Mystics recreation in opposition to Indiana on June 7 shall be performed at Capital One Enviornment — Washington’s outdated dwelling. Their regular dwelling, the Leisure and Sports activities Enviornment, can seat as much as 4,200 followers, however the Capital One Enviornment has a most basketball capability of greater than 20,000.
Almost half of WNBA groups play in NBA arenas, so there’s no want to maneuver these video games.
Nonetheless, a couple of others that don’t are feeling a push to maneuver video games to bigger arenas, together with the Chicago Sky. The Sky and Angel Reese play their dwelling video games within the 10,000-seat Wintrust Enviornment. Followers began a petition to maneuver their first dwelling recreation in opposition to Indiana to the larger United Heart. There’s a live performance scheduled at that enviornment on June 23 when the Fever come to city — in order that’s not going to occur.
The Los Angeles Sparks are one other crew that might transfer their recreation in opposition to Indiana.
The Sparks are taking part in their first 5 dwelling video games at Lengthy Seashore due to enviornment conflicts from development and the NBA and NHL playoffs. They’re internet hosting the Fever on Might 24, which is scheduled to be performed at Lengthy Seashore. The crew’s first 5 video games shall be performed there in a 4,000-seat enviornment.
The Sparks have performed video games up to now at USC and there’s at all times an opportunity they might transfer the Indiana recreation there. The Sparks stated they don’t have anything official to report when requested about transferring the sport.
The Atlanta Dream, who additionally play in a smaller venue that seats solely 3,500, host Clark and the Fever on June 21. The crew hasn’t stated whether or not it’s exploring attempting to maneuver to a much bigger enviornment but.
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AP Sports activities Author Mark Anderson in Las Vegas contributed to this story
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Related Press)
