As WNBA expansion continues, ownership of the NWSL's KC Current — which includes Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany — has met with the WNBA and is in contention to bring the league's next franchise to Kansas City. Mahomes also co-owns the KC Royals and Sporting KC. pic.twitter.com/9kd2VXzWR3
Just what my fragile self-esteem needs: a bunch of new gals in town that are more athletic than me & can kick my ass in basketball. Maybe my dating life will improve now if I self-identify as a lesbian. :-) [Reply]
Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501:
That’s what they said about the kc current. And before that MLS. With the new tv deal they will probably start making money.
The biggest problem I see with the WNBA is that their target audience doesn't watch. Women just aren't that into sports. And most men aren't interested in women's sports. I don't know any men that watch any women's sports, unless it just happens to be on at the sports bar or whatever. Or durng the Olympics.
But I've never heard a friend of mine say, "gotta get home and turn on the WNBA tonight!" It's simply not a thing. Caitlin Clark has created a buzz for now. But once that dies down, they're right back where they started, with 90% of women not giving a heck, not tuning in, not buying tickets, jerseys, etc. And have you ever seen a man wearing a WNBA jersey? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
The biggest problem I see with the WNBA is that their target audience doesn't watch. Women just aren't that into sports. And most men aren't interested in women's sports. I don't know any men that watch any women's sports, unless it just happens to be on at the sports bar or whatever. Or durng the Olympics.
But I've never heard a friend of mine say, "gotta get home and turn on the WNBA tonight!" It's simply not a thing. Caitlin Clark has created a buzz for now. But once that dies down, they're right back where they started, with 90% of women not giving a heck, not tuning in, not buying tickets, jerseys, etc. And have you ever seen a man wearing a WNBA jersey?
There are some guys that are interested in women's sports and...
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
The biggest problem I see with the WNBA is that their target audience doesn't watch. Women just aren't that into sports. And most men aren't interested in women's sports. I don't know any men that watch any women's sports, unless it just happens to be on at the sports bar or whatever. Or durng the Olympics.
But I've never heard a friend of mine say, "gotta get home and turn on the WNBA tonight!" It's simply not a thing. Caitlin Clark has created a buzz for now. But once that dies down, they're right back where they started, with 90% of women not giving a heck, not tuning in, not buying tickets, jerseys, etc. And have you ever seen a man wearing a WNBA jersey?
I disagree with you there for a number of reasons. 1, there is a mania for college basketball that hasn’t transitioned to the W. Especially at UConn and the SEC. That is changing rapidly with the NIL and athletes marketing themselves before they go pro. Caitlin clark is crushing it in merch and that includes men.
Second, the reason the Caitlin clark effect matters is that it has that tiger woods and Alex Morgan like ability to grow in historically sleepy markets. Turns out Iowa is rabid about women’s basketball. Who would’ve guessed that. Turns out kc is a terrific women’s soccer market? Turns out you just need someone who knows what they’re doing and is willing to market it correctly.
Women’s soccer made Nike billions of dollars because they created a new category of girls athletes who started buying everything from jerseys to cleats to shin guards. You know who’s probably going ape shit over this? Young/teen girls, their moms and girl dads.
But yeah, take Caitlin clark out of the current product… and it’s just brutally unmarketable basketball [Reply]
Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501:
I disagree with you there for a number of reasons. 1, there is a mania for college basketball that hasn’t transitioned to the W. Especially at UConn and the SEC. That is changing rapidly with the NIL and athletes marketing themselves before they go pro. Caitlin clark is crushing it in merch and that includes men.
Second, the reason the Caitlin clark effect matters is that it has that tiger woods and Alex Morgan like ability to grow in historically sleepy markets. Turns out Iowa is rabid about women’s basketball. Who would’ve guessed that. Turns out kc is a terrific women’s soccer market? Turns out you just need someone who knows what they’re doing and is willing to market it correctly.
Women’s soccer made Nike billions of dollars because they created a new category of girls athletes who started buying everything from jerseys to cleats to shin guards. You know who’s probably going ape shit over this? Young/teen girls, their moms and girl dads.
But yeah, take Caitlin clark out of the current product… and it’s just brutally unmarketable basketball
My brother's daughter watches, so he watches. And he took her to a couple games this year. But he doesn't watch if she's not in te room. And in general, most men just aren't interested in it. And at the end of the day, to be successful, the WNBA is going to have to make real $$$.
So either women are going to have to start watching, and buying shit, or somehow a large % of sports-watching men are going to have to start watching regularly. And buying shit.
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
The biggest problem I see with the WNBA is that their target audience doesn't watch. Women just aren't that into sports. And most men aren't interested in women's sports. I don't know any men that watch any women's sports, unless it just happens to be on at the sports bar or whatever. Or durng the Olympics.
But I've never heard a friend of mine say, "gotta get home and turn on the WNBA tonight!" It's simply not a thing. Caitlin Clark has created a buzz for now. But once that dies down, they're right back where they started, with 90% of women not giving a heck, not tuning in, not buying tickets, jerseys, etc. And have you ever seen a man wearing a WNBA jersey?
I would also argue that the other problem is you are thinking of the current demographic and not the future. The current demo are the dipshits who bitch and moan about nobody paying attention to the league while bullying clark and her fans for the attention they bring to the game. These people don’t want to grow the sport. Because in this tiny bubble they can be loud activists and because these media personalities were rejected from every platform because fans are tired of their activism know they become irrelevant when the game grows and they bring in actual media professionals.
There is a new demo that will grow from this but not until the shitty gatekeepers grt booted and they are going to kick and scream on their way to irrelevance [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
My brother's daughter watches, so he watches. And he took her to a couple games this year. But he doesn't watch if she's not in te room. And in general, most men just aren't interested in it. And at the end of the day, to be successful, the WNBA is going to have to make real $$$.
So either women are going to have to start watching, and buying shit, or somehow a large % of sports-watching men are going to have to start watching regularly. And buying shit.
I just don't see either happening. Ymmv.
Women watch the shit out of womens sports. [Reply]
Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501:
I would also argue that the other problem is you are thinking of the current demographic and not the future. The current demo are the dipshits who bitch and moan about nobody paying attention to the league while bullying clark and her fans for the attention they bring to the game. These people don’t want to grow the sport. Because in this tiny bubble they can be loud activists and because these media personalities were rejected from every platform because fans are tired of their activism know they become irrelevant when the game grows and they bring in actual media professionals.
There is a new demo that will grow from this but not until the shitty gatekeepers grt booted and they are going to kick and scream on their way to irrelevance
I've never watched a sport to grow it. Don't know anyone that does. I watch because they interest me, period. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
I've never watched a sport to grow it. Don't know anyone that does. I watch because they interest me, period.
Yes and that is the mentality of the old guard. They begged people to watch and got defensive when people told them it was a shitty product. Turns out you can’t shame people into watching something they don’t want to watch.
Women’s college basketball has legitimate interest. Caitlin clark fans are selling out arenas and this is despite the wnba doing everything in their power to insult and alienate them. They’re being told to STOP watching. That really says a lot that these fans are watching because they want to, not because they’re told to.
I think you’re undermining how much the NIL has changed the scales on this. Clark is a legit superstar and that’s not changing. Juju Watkins is next. And if you don’t believe that, follow the money. Because mega brands like Nike are placing a lot of bets on these girls. [Reply]
Is there any metric where the KC Current isn't a rousing success? That place is filled to the rafters every time I drive past while there's a game being played.
