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mb

Good article with interesting tidbits:

http://www.tribnet.com/sports/basketball/story/2534686p-2586693c.html

mb · Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2003 5:11 pm Post subject:

Shock makes plans for WNBA dispersal draft:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=6863214&BRD=982&PAG=461&dept_id=458072&rfi=6

mb · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2003 12:36 pm Post subject:

The schedule is out...available at individual team sites. Would guess these are preliminary.

2003 Mercury schedule:

http://www.wnba.com/mercury/schedule/

Red · Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 32 Location: Glendale, AZ

Boy do I ever hope it is preliminary. Did you notice the two home games scheduled for 12:00 pm....one on a Tuesday and the other on a Thursday. If these are actual game times, how many fans do you expect to see filling the seats? I sure wouldn't be able to go and I don't know anybody I could give my tickets to who would be able to go either. :( I don't understand the business logic behind this....primarily because there isn't any.

Kinda looks like we got shafted on the TV end of it AGAIN this year. Why :?: We're the only team with just one game televised and it is not even on a channel that most are able to get (Oxygen). Sorry but I have to whine about this too.

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

Red wrote: Boy do I ever hope it is preliminary. Did you notice the two home games scheduled for 12:00 pm....one on a Tuesday and the other on a Thursday. If these are actual game times, how many fans do you expect to see filling the seats? I sure wouldn't be able to go and I don't know anybody I could give my tickets to who would be able to go either. :( I don't understand the business logic behind this....primarily because there isn't any.

Two words - Camp Day.

caune · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1562 Location: Phoenix

Oh what a smart move by Seth! if I am right the camp days are really the 2 games we did not pay for when re-newing because no one knew the season would be 2 games longer. So this way we either get a choice to add those games (and pay for them) or they sell or give our tickets to day camps etc. for the youngins'. Camp days have went quite well in some other cities.

Red · Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 32 Location: Glendale, AZ

OK, now that makes sense. I had forgotten about the two additional games this year. If that IS what they are planning, I hope it works out exceptionally well.

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1137

Actually, we have paid for one of the early games. Our schedule increased by 2 games which translates to one home and one away game. We went from 16 home to 17 home games.

I must admit, while the words "day camp" send uncomfortable spasms down my back and a slight throbbing to my temples, I am willing to sacrifice for the cause.

That said, I really don't have a problem with the early schedule. If it means more people will have exposure to the Mercury and could mean more faithful fans, then I say "go for it."

FYI - 6 of the 17 scheduled Mercury games tipoff at the same time as the D-Backs at BOB. A seventh game, the Thursday noon game against Cleveland also falls on a home day for the D-Backs. They will start early also (3:05 pm instead of 7:05 - 3 hours after the Mercury tipoff). Makes me glad I took advantage of the free parking offer from the Mercury. I just hope that also means guaranteed parking.

My only real complaint is that we need more TV exposure. :evil: I was hoping the new TV contract with ESPN would mean a more diverse distribution of teams to see. Instead, you would be hard pressed not to have a game with LA, New York, or Houston playing.

gia · Guest

That lack of national broadcast coverage kills me. I think a lot of it has to do with us not having a local broadcast for them to feed off of. There should be a concerted effort to find ANY local station brave enough to show Merc games, if only a handful of them.

National Schedule:
NY vs Houston, Houston vs LA, LA vs NY - repeat until end of season.

mb · Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2003 11:40 am Post subject:

My recollection is foggy, bear with me.

Part of the problem has to do with the way signals are transmitted. For example, some Suns games are on UPN 45, some Cox 9. The Mercury had games on UPN 45 and WB 61 at times, if I recall.

Certain stations worked better for home games and others for away games. The feed could only be picked up if a certain technology as used in transmitting. Hence, not even many games on satelite, unless they were away games. One of the teams with dollars behind it had a broadcast station they owned,thereby having more games in the package.

Something like that...perhaps someone can explain/clarify more.

SportsFan48 · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1137

Part of the overall problem is that the WNBA has been paying to get on TV instead of being paid to allow the games to be shown. I don't know if that changed with the new ESPN contract and I don't know how much control they (ESPN) have over which games are shown. Teams in large TV markets are most likely going to be seen over teams located in smaller markets (this is why, IMHO, Larry Miller didn't pick up the Starzz franchise in Utah).

If I understand things correctly, I believe the cost to broadcast locally falls on the shoulders of the local owners. Most business decisions are based on the return for money spent. If the return for money spent on TV resulted in increased attendance at games or product sales, then it would be worthwhile to invest in local broadcasts. As much as I would love to see every Mercury game on TV, it probably won't happen until attendance at games picks up and other indicators show that the market has increased.

Arguments can be made that TV exposure can build a fan base. I am sure that is true, however, it still comes down to a return for the money issue. As a fan I am optimistic that local TV is part of the long term plan for the Mercury development, however, as a business person, I understand the decision not to commit to that expense at this time.

gia · Guest

I think showing Merc home games at this stage would decrease attendance because people will stay home and watch.

My issue is with showing away games (from cities that are showing the game in their market). Seth said that it would be easy to grab the broadcast from another city, and it's inexpensive, so that's not the problem. The problem is finding a local station here to show the games.

gia · Guest

mb wrote: For example, some Suns games are on UPN 45, some Cox 9.

I think this has to do with a deal the Suns made with Cox having exclusive rights to Suns home games. All home games on Cox, all away games ion UPN.

mb · Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2003 5:21 pm Post subject:

A local channel 27 (13) is showing ASU women...perhaps they or Fox Sports Arizona would snag a couple away game signals.

Gia, we must task the appropriate department to look into this. :twisted: :wink: