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WNBA commissioner offers generalities about Utah's future
By TIM KORTE
AP Sports Writer
July 31, 2002

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- WNBA commissioner Val Ackerman couldn't offer more than generalities Wednesday about the future of the Utah Starzz.

The Starzz are in the final year of a three-year contract with the league, and team owner Larry Miller hasn't said what direction he will take. Ackerman doesn't know what will happen, either.

``At this point, no changes are being contemplated,'' she said.

The Starzz are improving on the court and at the gate. One of the WNBA's charter franchises, Utah made its first playoff appearance last season, and another seems likely this summer.

The Starzz were 17-8 going into Wednesday night's game against Miami. With seven regular-season games remaining, Utah seemed within reach of surpassing last season's franchise-best 19-13 record.

Meanwhile, average attendance has increased over the past two seasons. Ackerman praised Ron Goch, Utah's vice president for business operations, for tripling Utah's sales of group tickets since 2000.

Goch said attendance has climbed from 6,417 fans per game in 2000 to 6,907 last season. Through 13 home games, the Starzz are averaging 6,703 fans this season but are hoping to finish with a higher average than for last season.

However, Utah Jazz and Utah Starzz president Dennis Haslam acknowledged that Miller is using money from the NBA team and his automobile dealerships and other businesses to subsidize the Starzz.

Haslam declined to disclose the amount or say how much money the team is losing each year, saying only that the Jazz organization views the WBNA franchise as part of its larger operation.

``We want to be supportive of the entire league, and that may require us to be involved in the WNBA even if it's not directly profitable,'' Haslam said.

That means the Starzz probably will continue to be a drain, the cost of doing business, if Miller pursues a contract extension with the league. Haslam said no decision will be made until after the season.

``At the end of the season, we'll meet and decide,'' he said.

Ackerman agreed, saying teams are evaluated around the league when their contracts expire. She singled out the Starzz, though, for their recent gains in the standings and in the crowd.

``I think we have a real good base here,'' Ackerman said. ``The core fans are as rabid as any I've seen around the league.''

As for where the team will be next season, she said: ``Our plan is to sit down with Denny at the end of the season and figure out what we need to do to keep moving forward.''