Bill Bolen out at Dream Front Office?

The new front office staff directory has been posted at the Atlanta Dream website. It seems that Bill Bolen, the former President and Chief Operating Officer of the Dream, is no longer at the DFO. He has become a director at Homrich and Berg, Inc. and remains the Chief Financial Officer at the Terwilliger Family Office. His time as President and COO of the Dream is listed as past employment.

Tonya Alleyne remains as Vice President of Media Relations. On the coaching side, Marynell Meadors, Fred Williams, Carol Ross and Sue Panek are still listed. But in terms of a president or vice-president - the positions formerly held by Bolen and Donehew - those positions aren't even listed on the new org chart.

Someone told me that Kathy Betty intends to be a hands-on owner. If so, I wish her the best of luck - my impression is that it's a steep learning curve.

Tulsans to Meet With WNBA President: Franchise in the Making?

The push for a WNBA team in Tulsa - it exists in the Tulsa media, if nowhere else - continues as WNBA President Donna Orender will meet this evening with Tulsa community leaders regarding Tulsa's chances of securing a WNBA franchise, whether relcation or expansion.

Atlanta Dream President Bill Bolen is interviewed regarding the last time a new franchise was created - ours. Bolen lets Dream fans know that in terms of ESPN rankings, Atlanta is the #1 TV market for the WNBA.

A quote from the article:

"You have to be willing to invest and take the time to build a brand," Bolen said in a Tuesday phone interview. "If an ownership group isn't willing to take the time and build resources to build a brand, even in a great market like Atlanta, things won't happen overnight. We still have a long way to go."

Gimme a Beat!

No, the title isn't about a Janet Jackson/WNBA retrospective. Rather, the name of the new Women's Professional Soccer league franchise in Atlanta has been revealed. The new franchise will be called the Atlanta Beat, and start play in 2010.

Dream president Bill Bolen gets a quote:

“The good thing for a franchise like the Dream or the new WPS team is that our investment is not as large and therefore we do not have to achieve the same revenue targets that a larger sports franchise has to reach in order to be successful,” Dream president Bill Bolen said via email.

Best of luck to the new Atlanta Beat. Maybe I'll cover it if I can figure out the mysteries of soccer.

New AJC Article : Is the Atlanta Dream Playoff-Bound?

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a new preview article up for the Dream that is definitely worth a read.

The title: Playoffs may be a reality this season. (Okay fellas, let's not get ahead of ourselves.) However, Mike Tierney of the AJC did chat with Dream President Bill Bolen...who, we learn for the first time, has actually put on his sneaks and scrimmaged against the Dream a few times this year.

A quote from the article: So, when Bolen says, “It’s unbelievable how much stronger and faster we are from last year,” he’s E.F. Hutton: worth listening to.

Dream Looking for Winning Season to Bring More Fans

A new article from the Washington Post second hand via the Associated Press interviews Dream president Bill Bolen who speaks (a little bit) about the financial state of our favorite team.

Bolen said apparently they liked what they saw. The victory convinced some season-ticket holders that Atlanta would definitely win more than four games with its revamped roster - which includes six-time All-Star Chamique Holdsclaw. Bolen said some season-ticket holders renewed their tickets during the game.

"Some of the them said, 'OK, I believe now,'" Bolen recalled. "'I don't want to miss this.' If you saw the talent we've gotten, you quickly realize this won't be another four-win season. I think once we start to really win, people are going to come out in droves.

(* * *)

Bolen wouldn't say how much the franchise lost in its dismal first season, but did say that owner J. Ronald Terwilliger didn't expect to gain much financially as an expansion club last year. Bolen added that the franchise is "feeling good heading into the future."

Bolen to Speak about Sports

Bill Bolen, President of the Atlanta Dream, will speak to the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce on October 6, 2008 on the topic, "WNBA, the Atlanta Dream, and the Impact of Sports on the Atlanta Economy."

Info is here. I'd like to hear his speech, but a) I'll be working, and b) I don't have the $40 to spend. Maybe Dream TV could post it...?

P. S.: You are now reading post #300. Woo hoo!