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No panic over down attendance
Posted: Friday June 30, 2000 12:10 PM
Throughout the WNBA, the whispers can be heard, "Oh no, attendance is down. Is the WNBA in trouble?" Not a bit. Attendance has been discussed almost as much as the play on the court as fans and media try to judge the interest in women's professional basketball.
Attendance has fallen off this year, with the league averaging about 8,500 as a whole. While league officials would love to see attendance closer to 10,000, the number it averaged the last two years, no one is panicking yet.
Remember, the goal for the league back in 1997 was to average 4,000 fans.
The 2000 season started two weeks earlier and is more condensed than other seasons because of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
As a result, the season started in the midst of the NBA playoffs, and when many schools were still in session. Because of the condensed schedule, there are more weeknight games and sometimes as many as three home games in a week, making it very tough for even the most dedicated basketball fans to attend all the games.
WNBA President Val Ackerman said she isn't worried about the lower numbers and expects attendance to pick up as the season moves along.
"The earlier start did have an impact on us this year and we can learn from that and go forward," she said. "We started with two rounds of the NBA Playoffs going on, the Stanley Cup, the Indy 500 and Memorial Day weekend. We had few home openers on weekends, only five of the 16 teams opened on weekends. We suffered a bit from that."
The league plans to push the start date back next year, at least to avoid Memorial Day weekend. In addition, Ackerman said the league will work harder to give home teams more weekend games.
However, the league is restricted by possible NBA playoff dates, non-WNBA events planned for teams' arenas and the league's national TV schedule that requires a Monday game for ESPN, a Friday game for Lifetime and a Sunday game for NBC.
"It's a very large jigsaw puzzle we're working with," Ackerman said. "But one thing we do want to look at is how the home games are scheduled within the week."
Of course, the drop in attendance can't be blamed on the scheduling alone. The dip also signifies the WNBA's coming of age. Now in its fourth year, the league isn't going to draw as many casual fans, the ones who go to the games just because it's something to do, as it did in its first years.
However, that may not be a bad thing either. If anything, it shows the league is maturing, and leaning toward more devoted fans who will stick with the game no matter when the league starts or when games are played.
No easy rides yetWashington, Sacramento and Minnesota have all endured travel nightmares this season. Washington's was the worst, as the Mystics tried for two days to get to Indianapolis for their game with Indiana. They couldn't, and the game had to be rescheduled for Aug. 3.
With all the travel difficulties, some teams have wondered aloud if and when the league will let them fly by charter.
The answer is not any time soon, according to Ackerman.
The league requires teams to fly coach to keep the cost down and will continue to do so. "It's simply an economical factor," she said. "It costs a lot more to charter. It took the NBA 40 years until its teams chartered."
Trouble In Charlotte?A new season is well under way, but not much has changed for the Charlotte Sting, who ended the 1999 campaign on a five-game losing streak.
The Sting are the worst team in the Eastern Conference and are drawing like it too, averaging just above 4,700 fans.
Apparently Charlotte is having some internal problems as well, with Tracy Reid remaining in Sacramento instead of traveling to Los Angeles with the rest of the squad. The 1998 Rookie of the Year has been disgruntled over her lack of playing time; she is averaging just five points in 15 minutes.
Charlotte is the only team other than Houston to make the playoffs each year, but that streak will be broken unless something changes quick.
Sparks' secret weapon still secretThe Los Angeles Sparks have always spoken highly of Mwadi Mabika, the 5-foot-11 guard who has been with the squad since the team's inception in 1997. Apparently, no one is paying attention.
In the first fan voting returns for the WNBA All-Star game, Mabika was only the 10th-rated guard. Sure, the fan voting is a popularity contest, but Mabika is making herself hard not to get noticed this season.
Brought to the U.S. by the NBA's Dikembe Mutombo, who is also from the Congo, Mabika is having her best year with the Sparks, averaging 13.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists, second on the team in all three categories.
Mabika's play has helped make up for the slow start of DeLisha Milton, who is averaging just nine points so far.
Around the LeagueMiami has done a nice job scouring the waiver wires for talent that fits into its system. Sheri Sam, waived by Orlando just before the season started, is averaging 12.6 points. ... Another find could be Kristen Rasmussen, who was cut by the Starzz when Amy Herrig was activated. The 6-2 Rasmussen is playing sparingly, but the Michigan State graduate is a smart player who will give the Sol a defensive lift. ... Candace Griffith, the 11-year-old daughter of reigning MVP Yolanda Griffith, already is 5-foot-3. ... Phoenix, the worst rebounding team in the league, desperately needs some help on the boards. But it isn't getting it in the most likely place, with 6-8 Maria Stepanova struggling. Her playing time has diminished to 11 minutes a game and is averaging just 2.7 rebounds. ... Eight of Indiana's 13 players (counting two on injured reserve) have missed games because of injuries.
Lya Wodraska is a sports writer for the Salt Lake Tribune.
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