Grizzlies-sponsored WNBA Team in Little Rock? (Memphis, Pulaski: purchases, university, subsidized)

[North Pulaski Player]

What's with all this talk of the Grizzlies creating a sister team for the WNBA to put in Little Rock(North Little Rock)? All I know is that it would be one of the few profitable WNBA teams, because there are no professional teams in Little Rock other than minor league baseball, and they would treat this possible Arkansas Sloth team like the freaking NFL. What's being said in Memphis about this?

[xhgz]

Why not Northwest AR rather than LR?

NWA looks better than LR on economy..

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by xhgz

Why not Northwest AR rather than LR?

NWA looks better than LR on economy..

Tulsa, right down the road from the NWA metro, already has a team.

[Teddy52]

I like women's basketball.
I have season tickets for the Arkansas Lady Red Wolves.

However, I believe a WNBA will have a tough time being profitable regardless of where they are located.

[memphisborn]

Originally Posted by North Pulaski Player

What's with all this talk of the Grizzlies creating a sister team for the WNBA to put in Little Rock(North Little Rock)? All I know is that it would be one of the few profitable WNBA teams, because there are no professional teams in Little Rock other than minor league baseball, and they would treat this possible Arkansas Sloth team like the freaking NFL. What's being said in Memphis about this?

Well as a native Memphian and grizzlies season ticket holder I can tell u this we currently have plans for a 350 million dollar renovation to FedEx Forum if Robert Pera purchases a WNBA franchise they will be playing in The M @ FedEx Forum. Wish u guys luck in pursuing professional sports.

[Regajohn]

“Nobody” would go to the games … Arkansas residents are very fickle, and generally don’t support teams other than the University of Arkansas’ football, basketball, and baseball teams.
And nobody goes to WNBA games anyway … The league loses on average $10 million per year and is subsidized by the NBA

[850_branded]

Yeah, I believe that for a W team to work, it would have to play in Memphis proper, right there at the Forum. (And despite the nana-nana-boobirds out there, the W does in fact have fans and a stronger following currently than in the past.)

Now what would work well in Little Rock is the G-League team. I know the Hustle currently play down in Southaven, but if the Grizz were to move that squad to LR, it'd be HUGE for LR as it'd also help them tap more into the central Arkansas market (and anything from there going back east would be even better). The question, though, is would the Grizz consider doing so?

And if it helps anyone's frame of reference, somehow the Miami Heat have, for well over a decade now, maintained ties with their G-League team in, of all places, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a city/metro comparable in size to LR (LR is much larger in terms of metro population however). The Skyforce does and has done very well; if they can do well with an NBA investment, so too could Little Rock if the Grizz would be willing to do so.

[Comingtomemphis]

The Grizzlies previously had their G-league team in Iowa, which was inconvenient logistically, as it took a full day to fly between the cities. The Grizz use the Hustle for development of their rookies and two-way players, keeping guys like Tillman in game shape and rehabbing guys coming off injury. Plus, the Grizzly players support the guys playing on the Hustle by attending games. Fans can see players like Junior at minimal expense. Southaven is a perfect fit, as it's a short drive down 55. Who wants to drive to Little Rick?