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
Originally Posted by Saulbadguy:
Women watch the shit out of womens sports.
Don't know any myself. Not hardcore fans that schedule their time around games. Or buy shirts, jerseys, hats, etc., which is where a lot of the $$$ is. Never seen a lot of women in public wearing any paraphernalia for a women's sports team.
And if there were really a lot of women watching, they'd be making a lot of $$$, no? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
Don't know any myself. Not hardcore fans that schedule their time around games. Or buy shirts, jerseys, hats, etc., which is where a lot of the $$$ is. Never seen a lot of women in public wearing any paraphernalia for a women's sports team.
And if there were really a lot of women watching, they'd be making a lot of $$$, no?
Nike has built something like a $10B category for women’s soccer and their jerseys were best sellers during last years World Cup. They are definitely huge sellers. Again I think you’re thinking of the average men’s sports fan. Look at the crowd in a Caitlin clark game and you’ll see lines and lines of little girls wanting jerseys signed. You may not see this fandom in Kansas City but you’ll definitely see it painted all over Iowa. I don’t think you’re looking in the right places. Which is understandable because interest on the pro level is really in its infancy [Reply]
KC is a great city for a WNBA Team IMO… lots of support for the soccer team already bc so many suburban kids, this would be great for girls youth in the area! [Reply]
Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501:
Nike has built something like a $10B category for women’s soccer and their jerseys were best sellers during last years World Cup. They are definitely huge sellers. Again I think you’re thinking of the average men’s sports fan. Look at the crowd in a Caitlin clark game and you’ll see lines and lines of little girls wanting jerseys signed. You may not see this fandom in Kansas City but you’ll definitely see it painted all over Iowa. I don’t think you’re looking in the right places. Which is understandable because interest on the pro level is really in its infancy
I'm in PHX.
I mean, if it ends up being a legit $$$ maker, great for the WNBA. But to do it, I think they have to turn a ton of "average male sports fans," and that I don't see happening. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
Don't know any myself. Not hardcore fans that schedule their time around games. Or buy shirts, jerseys, hats, etc., which is where a lot of the $$$ is. Never seen a lot of women in public wearing any paraphernalia for a women's sports team.
And if there were really a lot of women watching, they'd be making a lot of $$$, no?
Young women do. Many of whom never played sports before or care about any sport in general but they just want to be an ally. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
Don't know any myself. Not hardcore fans that schedule their time around games. Or buy shirts, jerseys, hats, etc., which is where a lot of the $$$ is. Never seen a lot of women in public wearing any paraphernalia for a women's sports team.
And if there were really a lot of women watching, they'd be making a lot of $$$, no?
In my office (in KC), there is plenty of Current gear that I see being worn. Not just the ladies either. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
Young women do. Many of whom never played sports before or care about any sport in general but they just want to be an ally.
Other than your feeling that young women do, do we have any hard data? I mean, I have 4 goddaughters ranging in age from 10-18, and only 2 of them watch sports at all, and just one watches the WNBA. That's not hard data, but it's more than "young women do." I also seem to have a couple dozen female friends that range in age from late twenties to 55+, and while many are football fans, none seem to be interested in the WNBA.
Originally Posted by wazu:
In my office (in KC), there is plenty of Current gear that I see being worn. Not just the ladies either.
That's nice. What about the offices around yours? If you took a poll of all the offices in your zipcode just how any do you think would be flooded with current apparel?
I mean, guys, if you like the WNBA, have at it. I'm not saying you shouldn't. I'm just saying I don't think it's the wisest of investments. Again, ymmv. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
That's nice. What about the offices around yours? If you took a poll of all the offices in your zipcode just how any do you think would be flooded with current apparel?
It's my understanding the Current have a season ticket waiting list. I think my office is pretty typical. It's still all no match for the Chiefs, Royals, MU, KU. But it isn't invisible like it seemed women's sports were 20 years ago. [Reply]
I mean, if it ends up being a legit $$$ maker, great for the WNBA. But to do it, I think they have to turn a ton of "average male sports fans," and that I don't see happening.
That’s probably not a great market because nobody cares about women’s basketball there and despite how much the wnba gatekeepers will tell you so, nobody gives a shit about taurasi or griner. They’re celebrities only in their own heads. You would see something very different at UConn and the SEC. And now Iowa and indianapolis. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
Don't know any myself. Not hardcore fans that schedule their time around games. Or buy shirts, jerseys, hats, etc., which is where a lot of the $$$ is. Never seen a lot of women in public wearing any paraphernalia for a women's sports team.
And if there were really a lot of women watching, they'd be making a lot of $$$, no?
I go to the majority of the KC Current games, we purchased season tickets. Often times, we can't make the game and resell the tickets (supporters section) for 2 to 3 times the face value.
Your last statement is fair. I believe that will be changing relatively soon - based on the surge of demand. For what its worth, we went to the KC WoSo games at Swope Park in 2015. There were no more than 500-700 people there, even when Alex Morgan came to town. Now, they play in a 11k seat stadium that sells out consistently.
Obviously - there isn't anywhere near the demand as there are for mens sports, and never will be, but I think there is adequate enough demand to keep people watching. [Reply]