Celtics famous person Jayson Tatum lately introduced his involvement in a multi-million greenback bid to convey a WNBA franchise to St. Louis, his hometown.
According to Sportico, Tatum has informally agreed to put money into the potential franchise and is actively concerned within the group’s efforts to draw further traders and current a compelling case to the league. The possession group spearheading this initiative contains billionaires Richard Chaifetz and David Hoffman.
Because the WNBA’s recognition continues to develop, it’s searching for extra growth alternatives. By 2026, the league will develop from 12 groups to fifteen. Desirous to strengthen the league, commissioner Cathy Engelbert envisions that the WNBA may broaden past the 15 deliberate franchises.
Per Front Office Sports, Englebert stated she’d prefer to see the WNBA type a sixteenth franchise by the 2028 season. Moreover, Engelbert states that there are a few dozen potential locations for an growth workforce. Ought to St. Louis land a WNBA franchise, it could be the town’s fifth skilled sports activities workforce. St. Louis already helps MLB, NHL, MLS and UFL franchises, proving to be one among America’s most distinguished sports activities hubs.
Whereas Tatum, joined by Chaifetz and Hoffman, goal to convey a WNBA franchise to the town, St. Louis would even be an excellent vacation spot for an NBA growth workforce. Like its WNBA counterpart, the NBA has begun inner discussions about league growth. In the course of the Paris Olympics, NBA commissioner Adam Silver famous that the board has begun discussing growth, however the league received’t rush the method.
“There was not a whole lot of dialogue on this assembly about growth, however solely largely as a result of — not for lack of curiosity — it is as a result of we had stated to [potential franchise suitors] that we’re not fairly prepared,” Silver told reporters.
