Celtics celebrity Jayson Tatum not too long ago introduced his involvement in a multi-million greenback bid to carry a WNBA franchise to St. Louis, his hometown.
According to Sportico, Tatum has informally agreed to put money into the possible 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 reputation continues to develop, it’s in search of extra enlargement 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 increase past the 15 deliberate franchises.
Per Front Office Sports, Englebert mentioned she’d wish to see the WNBA type a sixteenth franchise by the 2028 season. Moreover, Engelbert states that there are a couple of dozen potential locations for an enlargement staff. Ought to St. Louis land a WNBA franchise, it will be the town’s fifth skilled sports activities staff. St. Louis already helps MLB, NHL, MLS and UFL franchises, proving to be certainly one of America’s most distinguished sports activities hubs.
Whereas Tatum, joined by Chaifetz and Hoffman, purpose to carry a WNBA franchise to the town, St. Louis would even be a really perfect vacation spot for an NBA enlargement staff. Like its WNBA counterpart, the NBA has begun inner discussions about league enlargement. In the course of the Paris Olympics, NBA commissioner Adam Silver famous that the board has begun discussing enlargement, however the league received’t rush the method.
“There was not quite a lot of dialogue on this assembly about enlargement, however solely largely as a result of — not for lack of curiosity — it is as a result of we had mentioned to [potential franchise suitors] that we’re not fairly prepared,” Silver told reporters.
