The Amica Mutual Pavilion, a potential new home for the Connecticut Sun.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee has commenced talks regarding the potential relocation of the Connecticut Sun, a WNBA team, to Providence. A meeting last Friday included a venue tour at Amica Mutual Pavilion to assess its suitability for basketball. The Mohegan Tribe, which owns the Sun, is exploring options for selling the team amid rising interest in women’s sports. The franchise has a rich history and faces operational challenges, but relocating could enhance community engagement and local economic activity.
Rhode Island – Governor Dan McKee has initiated discussions about potentially relocating the Connecticut Sun, a WNBA franchise, to Providence. The meeting, which took place last Friday from 10 to 11:30 AM at the Amica Mutual Pavilion (AMP), involved a tour of the venue configured as a basketball stadium to demonstrate its suitability for hosting the team. However, McKee’s office did not disclose specific details about the meeting’s attendees or the core discussions.
The Connecticut Sun, currently owned by the Mohegan Tribe, plays its home games at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Mohegan Tribe has been exploring options for the sale of the team as well as its potential relocation, indicating a shifting landscape for the franchise. McKee reportedly met with a prospective investor interested in acquiring the Sun with the goal of moving the team to Rhode Island.
As one of the notable teams in the WNBA, the Sun has a storied history. The franchise has qualified for the WNBA playoffs in 15 of its 21 seasons. Despite this success, it remains one of the few teams in the league without a championship title. The team was purchased by the Mohegan Tribe in 2003 for $10 million and relocated from Orlando, Florida. The current valuation of the Sun has significantly appreciated over the years, with estimates placing its worth at around $80 million as of last year, underlining the increasing value of women’s professional sports.
Governor McKee’s exploration of bringing the Sun to Providence aligns with a broader trend within the WNBA, which has seen substantial growth in viewership and franchise values. The league has benefited from a surge in popularity, prompting interest in potential expansions into new markets. However, Rhode Island may face stiff competition from other cities also vying for the franchise’s relocation.
Previous attempts to bring professional sports teams to Providence have not yielded success, including a notable failure to relocate the New England Patriots to the city during the 1990s. The AMP, while hosting various events throughout fall and winter, experiences low activity during the summer months, making the addition of a professional sports team potentially beneficial to the venue and the local economy.
As for the Connecticut Sun’s current standing, the team faces challenges, currently holding a disappointing 3-18 record in the league. Additionally, the Sun lacks dedicated training facilities and often practices at its home arena, presenting logistical obstacles for the organization. Plans to relocate the team would not only provide a new venue but also aim to capitalize on the high interest in women’s sports and professional basketball.
Joe Pagliuca, son of former Boston Celtics owner Steve Pagliuca, is reportedly leading the efforts to purchase the Connecticut Sun. His involvement could play a crucial role in the potential move to Providence, should the sale and relocation come to fruition. With the WNBA’s revenue and viewership on the rise, the prospect of relocating the Sun to Rhode Island represents an opportunity to deepen the local engagement with women’s professional sports.
As discussions continue and the situation evolves, the potential relocation of the Connecticut Sun to Providence presents both challenges and opportunities for the state, the team, and its loyal fanbase.
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