WNBA Business Meetings Next Week

From Greg Bibb over at the Pass the Ball Blog:

Great news from Atlanta last week as Kathy Betty was introduced as the new owner of the Atlanta Dream. Ms. Betty is a well-respected, long-time member of the greater Atlanta business community. I’m excited to meet her at this week’s WNBA business meetings in New York City.

I'm sure they'll talk about whether Tulsa and Minnesota will remain in their respective conferences.

WNBA Owners - Where the Cash Comes From, v. 4

Newest changes:

Kathy Betty replaces Ron Terwilliger as owner of the Dream.
Bill Cameron and David Box replace Jean Davidson as owners of the Detroit/Tulsa franchise.


Atlanta Dream -- Kathy Betty

Kathy Betty is the newest of the WNBA owners. Betty was married to Gary Betty, who was the CEO of Earthlink, an internet service provider. After Gary Betty died of cancer, his widow used his fortune to found the Garry Betty Foundation as well as to support Georgia Tech basketball. (Betty was an alumnus of Georgia Tech.) The extension of the Betty philanthropy to the Atlanta Dream naturally followed.

Chicago Sky -- Michael Alter

Alter is another real estate developer, in Alter's case, commercial real estate. (The company runs about $750 billion in projects.) Alter was also well off enough to throw down a theoretical $10 million for the Sky.

Connecticut Sun -- the Mohegan Indian Tribe

The Sun is the only team in the WNBA that is owned by an ethnic group. Its primary money is from casino gambling, which rakes in over $1 billion a year.

Indiana Fever -- Herbert and Melvin Simon

The Simons are billionaires, who also own the Indiana Pacers. They are pretty much America's biggest shopping mall owners. Although the Simons 82 (Mel) and 74 (Herb) are the owners Mel's oldest son David (47) is the current CEO of the company. I suspect the control of the Fever will remain in the hands of the Simons, but the Simons are rumbling about leaving Indiana.

New York Liberty -- Cablevision (Charles and James Dolan)

The Dolans run the New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden as well. Cablevision earns about $5 billion a year, and a deal is in process to make the company private. I doubt that the Dolans are going to run out of cash anytime soon.

Tulsa WNBA -- Bill Cameron and David Box

Cameron and Box are the co-owners of the franchise which was moved from Detroit to Tulsa - the Tulsa franchise doesn't even have a name yet. Cameron is an owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder, chairman and CEO of American Fidelity Assurance Co., and chairman of First Fidelity Bank. Box is president and CEO of Box Ventures. His company produces and promotes concerts around the country, has various real estate interests, owns the Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City, and consults with business and venture capital groups. I'm sure both owners have multi-millions in assets; but the liabilities and true wealth of each of the owners isn't known.

Washington Mystics -- Lincoln Holdings

The partnership known as Lincoln Holdings also owns the Washington Capitals, the Wizards, and the Verizon Center. The majority owner is Ted Leonsis. Leonsis's money is computer money -- he's an AOL executive. I would venture to say that he's financially secure. However, the team's president is another partner at Lincoln Holdings, Sheila Johnson. Johnson is the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and a billionaire.

Los Angeles Sparks -- Carla Christofferson and Kathy Goodman

Christofferson is a full partner at age 42 in the law firm O’Melveny & Myers, a major Los Angeles entertainment-industry law firm. Kathy Goodman helped start an independent production and finance company called Intermedia Films and was a former executive. She now works as a high school teacher. Together, they put up the theoretical $10 million it took to buy the Sparks.

Minnesota Lynx -- Glen Taylor

Glen Taylor is a billionaire and was an influential Minnesota politician, making his money from the manufacture of specialized printed materials, like wedding invitations. He owns the Timberwolves and would like to own the Twins and the Vikings. Worth over $2 billion.

Phoenix Mercury -- Robert Sarver

Sarver is the current majority owner of the Mercury. He was the founder of the National Bank of Arizona, which for a long time was Arizona's largest independent bank. He also acquired several other banks, serves as CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation and is the owner of the Phoenix Suns. He is worth around $400 million.

Sacramento Monarchs -- The Maloof Family

Headed by Joe and Gavin Maloof, the Maloofs made their cash in hotels, casinos, and alcohol distribution. Each of the Maloof brothers is supposedly worth $100 million.

San Antonio Silver Stars -- Peter Holt

Holt made his cash in farm equipment, building up a small Caterpillar dealership into one of the largest in the country. He's worth $80 million, and thankfully for the Silver Stars, he's a big believer in supporting the San Antonio community.

Seattle Storm -- Force 10 Hoops LLC

Force 10 Hoops LLC is a group of four Storm season-ticket holders that wanted to make sure the Storm stayed in Seattle if the SuperSonics left. They range from a philanthropist to an ex-Deputy Mayor to two former executives at Microsoft. They pooled together the $10 million dollars it took to purchase the Storm.

Dream It AND Be It: Dream Sold to Kathy Betty

Left to right: Atlanta City Council President Lisa Boarders, new Dream owner Kathy Betty, WNBA President Donna Orender, Atlanta Dream Head Coach Marynell Meadors and Dream player Jennifer Lacy.

We now have the word that we've been waiting for. No, not word about the infamous Surfin' Bird, but word that the Atlanta Dream has safely landed in the arms of a new managing partner, Kathy Betty. However, in the colloquial sense of the term, Betty is the new owner. The existence of the Atlanta Dream is assured to at least the end of the 2010 season, and hopefully, many years beyond that.

According to the WNBA news release, the Atlanta Dream will be owned by Dream Too LLC, an investment group headed by Kathy Betty. She becomes the first woman in Atlanta history to own a sports team. Here is the same article (essentially) from:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution story, one which gives more background into Betty's motivations for purchasing the Dream. This is an update from an earlier article this morning.

USA Today

Atlanta Business Chronicle

For those who haven't been following along, Betty is the widow of Earthlink CEO Garry Betty. She's been a major supporter of Georgia Tech women's basketball, so purchasing the dream is simply a logical extension of her interests. (Mr. Betty was a graduate of Georgia Tech.) She also has further Atlanta ties as a former executive vice-president of Scott Madden Inc, an Atlanta-based consulting firm.

Apparently, Dream Too LLC had some help from Atlanta mayoral candidate Lisa Borders, currently president of the Atlanta City Council. Borders "carved out time to bring sponsorships to the table and find investors who will make the Dream a continued reality for the staff, players and, of course, our fans" according to Betty. (It doesn't hurt that Borders is running for re-election.) The news has gone up on her political website as Borders claims that the Dream staying in Atlanta increases the flow of tourist money in the coffers of Atlanta businesses.)

According to Steve Visser's additions to the updated AJC article above, it is implied that Mr. Terwilliger no longer has any ownership stake in the Dream. I do not seek to condemn him, but to praise him. Just remember, without Mr. Terwilliger we might not have had an Atlanta Dream for the last two years. Thank you, Mr. Terwilliger, for all of your support of the greatest team in the WNBA. (My opinion.)

As for certain staff members of the Sports Department of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, it looks like they'll have to wait at least another year to pull out that "Dream folds" article they've had queued up since 2008. To quote Cleveland Indians manager Lou Brown:

The local press seems to think that we'd save everyone the time and trouble if we just went out and shot ourselves. Me, I'm for wasting sportswriters' time. So I figured we ought to hang around for a while and see if we can give 'em all a nice big shitburger to eat!

And now, let's sing! "We're a wild and an untamed thing...we're a bee with a deadly sting...!"

WNBA Owners - Where the Cash Comes From, v. 3

This is a reprint of an earlier list of mine. Some changes since April of 2009:

a) Melvin Simon has died.
b) Update on Dream owner Ron Terwilliger.
c) Update on Jean Davidson.
d) Update on Michael Alter.

Atlanta Dream -- Ron Terwilliger

Terwillinger is not only a homebuilder, he's been one on a massive scale for more than 20 years. He's the chairman/CEO of Trammell Crow Residential, which builds apartments and condominiums, and invested $10 million dollars in the new Atlanta Dream.

A 68-year-old philanthropist, Terwilliger is said to be "very rich". However, Terwilliger began looking for ownership partners for the Dream in August 2009, before the season had concluded. With the recession adversely affecting the real estate market, one wonders how deep ownership's pockets are in Atlanta.

Chicago Sky -- Michael Alter

Alter is another real estate developer, in Alter's case, commercial real estate. (The company runs about $750 billion in projects.) As of 2005, the Alter Group was one of the nation's ten largest commercial real estate developers.

Alter was also well off enough to throw down a theoretical $10 million for the Sky, and will move the Sky to a larger arena in 2010. In August 2009, Alter purchased The New Republic magazine.

Connecticut Sun -- the Mohegan Indian Tribe

The Sun is the only team in the WNBA that is owned by an ethnic group. Its primary money is from casino gambling, which rakes in over $1 billion a year.

Detroit Shock -- Karen Davidson

Karen Davidson is the wife of the former owner of the Detroit Pistons, the late William Davidson. He was a billionaire ($3.5 billion), so money was no problem for him. He got the money manufacturing architectual and automotive glass, and his widow Karen was bequeathed a nice chunk of that money.

In Septmber 2009 Davidson was at best non-committal about the future of the WNBA in Detroit. "I hope they keep it together. But it is an expensive undertaking for the league and the owners. We'll see."

Indiana Fever -- Herbert Simon

With the death of his brother Melvin Simon in 2009, billionaire Herbert Simon owns both the Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers. He is pretty much America's biggest shopping mall owner. Simon is 74 and his nephew David (47) is the current CEO of the company.

Most of the quotes about the Fever leaving Indiana came from Melvin Simon - can one assume that his brother feels the same way?

New York Liberty -- Cablevision (Charles and James Dolan)

The Dolans run the New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden as well. Cablevision earns about $5 billion a year, and a deal is in process to make the company private. I doubt that the Dolans are going to run out of cash anytime soon.

Washington Mystics -- Lincoln Holdings

The partnership known as Lincoln Holdings also owns the Washington Capitals, the Wizards, and the Verizon Center. The majority owner is Ted Leonsis. Leonsis's money is computer money -- he's an AOL executive. I would venture to say that he's financially secure. However, the team's president is another partner at Lincoln Holdings, Sheila Johnson. Johnson is the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and a billionaire.

Los Angeles Sparks -- Carla Christofferson and Kathy Goodman

Christofferson is a full partner at age 32 in the law firm O’Melveny & Myers, a major Los Angeles entertainment-industry law firm. Kathy Goodman helped start an independent production and finance company called Intermedia Films and was a former executive. She now works as a high school teacher. Together, they put up the theoretical $10 million it took to buy the Sparks.

Minnesota Lynx -- Glen Taylor

Glen Taylor is a billionaire and was an influential Minnesota politician, making his money from the manufacture of specialized printed materials, like wedding invitations. He owns the Timberwolves and would like to own the Twins and the Vikings. Worth over $2 billion.

Phoenix Mercury -- Robert Sarver

Sarver is the current majority owner of the Mercury. He was the founder of the National Bank of Arizona, which for a long time was Arizona's largest independent bank. He also acquired several other banks, serves as CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation and is the owner of the Phoenix Suns. He is worth around $400 million.

Sacramento Monarchs -- The Maloof Family

Headed by Joe and Gavin Maloof, the Maloofs made their cash in hotels, casinos, and alcohol distribution. Each of the Maloof brothers is supposedly worth $100 million.

San Antonio Silver Stars -- Peter Holt

Holt made his cash in farm equipment, building up a small Caterpillar dealership into one of the largest in the country. He's worth $80 million, and thankfully for the Silver Stars, he's a big believer in supporting the San Antonio community.

Seattle Storm -- Force 10 Hoops LLC

Force 10 Hoops LLC is a group of four Storm season-ticket holders that wanted to make sure the Storm stayed in Seattle if the SuperSonics left. They range from a philanthropist to an ex-Deputy Mayor to two former executives at Microsoft. They pooled together the $10 million dollars it took to purchase the Storm.

Melvin Simon, Co-Owner of Fever, Dies

Melvin Simon, one of the owners of the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever, has died at the age of 82.

I assume that Herbert Simon will become the full owner of the company, with Mel's oldest son David remaining CEO.

The Mercury Mystery

Supposedly, on Monday, the Phoenix Mercury will be joined by NBA Commissioner David Stern and WNBA President Donna Orender for a major announcement. The announcement will theoretically be so major that the Phoenix Mercury web site will shut down on Monday in order for the staff to handle other things. (And, one surmises, to keep the site from continually crashing due to the massive amount of hits.)

(UPDATE: The site went on lockdown today. Visit the locked down site to see what it looks like.)

Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter will both be at the announcement.

This has involved...well, a lot of speculation regarding what this announcement is and why they couldn't give up more detail. Knowledgeable posters with insights into the Atlanta Dream' s inner operations stated that this was actually slated to happen in 2008 with the Atlanta Dream franchise, but it fell apart. So fans, it coulda been us. The e-mail received by some Mercury fans said that it was the biggest story in the Mercury's history...and the Merc is an original franchise of the WNBA, dating back to 1997.

Here are some of the theories:

1. The Phoenix Mercury will change ownership. Okay, the Phoenix Mercury will be independently owned instead of being owned by the same guy who owns the Suns. The question is why would David Stern bother to show up for that? NBA franchises change ownership and Stern doesn't show up for those annoucements.

Furthermore, the Atlanta source says that this is not an ownership change. I find this poster's information to be highly reliable, as good as gold bullion in most cases.

2. It's a major coaching change. Someone monstrously important is going to coach the Mercury. I'm thinking Summitt. Or Auriemma. Or Stringer. But I don't think that will happen for a number of reasons.

3. A change in the ownership structure. The same owners might be involved, but there could be some switch over to a new ownership model:

a) allowing foreign ownership to buy in, or
b) alllowing player shares in the Mercury, where the players can own some of the equity, or
c) allowing the Mercury to become a publicly traded company.

a) isn't anything special.

As for b), this has been done before. One of the more reliable RebKell posters states that the ABL did this and the WUSA (the first of the pro women's soccer leagues) did this and it ended up a "hot mess". Even though I agree with his points, I don't think this killed the ABL - the ABL's problems were caused by a top-down franchise ownership model where individual franchises had little power to make decisions on their own and therefore couldn't take advantage of local opportunities.

c) on the other hand would be truly interesting. The major reason that American sports franchises aren't corporations and are privately owned entities is that a privately owned entity never has to show its books to anyone. Whereas a corporation does have to show its books, so to speak.

If it's c) I don't see how Stern would agree with it. Unless it's a "poison pill" - maybe the Mercury aren't doing well and if they're publicly owned, the world can see that, which would make it easier to fold the franchise without any muss or fuss.

As for me...I'm holding out for #1, above. Michael Jordan is going to buy the Mercury. Or Bill Gates. Or Oprah Winfrey, or some sort of new super-owner, someone so astonishing that even Bill Stern had to pay homage. Could it be that the Gloved One is going to buy the Mercury?

WNBA Owners - Where the Cash Comes From, v. 2

This is a reprint of an earlier list of mine. Some changes since June of 2008:

a) the Houston Comets are no more, and
b) neither is former Shock and Pistons owner William Davidson, may he rest in peace.

Atlanta Dream -- Ron Terwilliger

Terwillinger is not only a homebuilder, he's been one on a massive scale for more than 20 years. He's the chairman/CEO of Trammell Crow Residential, which builds apartments and condominiums, and invested $10 million dollars in the new Atlanta Dream. A philanthropist, Terwilliger is said to be "very rich". However, he's also 68. I suspect that Terwilliger can float the Dream as long as he wants to. He has at least enough money to have made a bid at owning the Braves.

Chicago Sky -- Michael Alter

Alter is another real estate developer, in Alter's case, commercial real estate. (The company runs about $750 billion in projects.) Alter was also well off enough to throw down a theoretical $10 million for the Sky.

Connecticut Sun -- the Mohegan Indian Tribe

The Sun is the only team in the WNBA that is owned by an ethnic group. Its primary money is from casino gambling, which rakes in over $1 billion a year.

Detroit Shock -- Karen Davidson

Karen Davidson is the wife of the former owner of the Detroit Pistons, the late William Davidson. He was a billionaire ($3.5 billion), so money was no problem for him. He got the money manufacturing architectual and automotive glass, and his widow Karen was bequeathed a nice chunk of that money. The question is, does Karen care about the success of the Shock as much as Davidson did?

Indiana Fever -- Herbert and Melvin Simon

The Simons are billionaires, who also own the Indiana Pacers. They are pretty much America's biggest shopping mall owners. Although the Simons 82 (Mel) and 74 (Herb) are the owners Mel's oldest son David (47) is the current CEO of the company. I suspect the control of the Fever will remain in the hands of the Simons, but the Simons are rumbling about leaving Indiana.

New York Liberty -- Cablevision (Charles and James Dolan)

The Dolans run the New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden as well. Cablevision earns about $5 billion a year, and a deal is in process to make the company private. I doubt that the Dolans are going to run out of cash anytime soon.

Washington Mystics -- Lincoln Holdings

The partnership known as Lincoln Holdings also owns the Washington Capitals, the Wizards, and the Verizon Center. The majority owner is Ted Leonsis. Leonsis's money is computer money -- he's an AOL executive. I would venture to say that he's financially secure. However, the team's president is another partner at Lincoln Holdings, Sheila Johnson. Johnson is the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and a billionaire.

Los Angeles Sparks -- Carla Christofferson and Kathy Goodman

Christofferson is a full partner at age 32 in the law firm O’Melveny & Myers, a major Los Angeles entertainment-industry law firm. Kathy Goodman helped start an independent production and finance company called Intermedia Films and was a former executive. She now works as a high school teacher. Together, they put up the theoretical $10 million it took to buy the Sparks.

Minnesota Lynx -- Glen Taylor

Glen Taylor is a billionaire and was an influential Minnesota politician, making his money from the manufacture of specialized printed materials, like wedding invitations. He owns the Timberwolves and would like to own the Twins and the Vikings. Worth over $2 billion.

Phoenix Mercury -- Robert Sarver

Sarver is the current majority owner of the Mercury. He was the founder of the National Bank of Arizona, which for a long time was Arizona's largest independent bank. He also acquired several other banks, serves as CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation and is the owner of the Phoenix Suns. He is worth around $400 million.

Sacramento Monarchs -- The Maloof Family

Headed by Joe and Gavin Maloof, the Maloofs made their cash in hotels, casinos, and alcohol distribution. Each of the Maloof brothers is supposedly worth $100 million.

San Antonio Silver Stars -- Peter Holt

Holt made his cash in farm equipment, building up a small Caterpillar dealership into one of the largest in the country. He's worth $80 million, and thankfully for the Silver Stars, he's a big believer in supporting the San Antonio community.

Seattle Storm -- Force 10 Hoops LLC

Force 10 Hoops LLC is a group of four Storm season-ticket holders that wanted to make sure the Storm stayed in Seattle if the SuperSonics left. They range from a philanthropist to an ex-Deputy Mayor to two former executives at Microsoft. They pooled together the $10 million dollars it took to purchase the Storm.

WNBA Owners - Where the Cash Comes From

The Dream is his, in more ways than one.

As part of the never-ending quest for knowledge and as the proud possessor of an obsessive-compulsive disorder, I wrote a small run-down of each of the WNBA owners. Hope you enjoy.

Atlanta Dream -- Ron Terwilliger

Terwillinger is not only a homebuilder, he's been one on a massive scale for more than 20 years. He's the chairman/CEO of Trammell Crow Residential, which builds apartments and condominiums, and invested $10 million dollars in the new Atlanta Dream. A philanthropist, Terwilliger is said to be "very rich". However, he's also 67. I suspect that Terwilliger can float the Dream as long as he wants to. He has at least enough money to have made a bid at owning the Braves.

Chicago Sky -- Michael Alter

Alter is another real estate developer, in Alter's case, commercial real estate. (The company runs about $750 billion in projects.) Alter was also well off enough to throw down $10 million for the Sky.

Connecticut Sun -- the Mohegan Indian Tribe

The Sun is the only team in the WNBA that is owned by an ethnic group. Its primary money is from casino gambling, which rakes in over $1 billion a year.

Detroit Shock -- William Davidson

Davidson is the owner of the Detroit Pistons as well. He's a billionaire ($3.5 billion), so money is no problem for him. He got the money manufacturing architectual and automotive glass. The big problem is that Davison is 85, so if he were to pass away, what would happen to the Shock?

Indiana Fever -- Herbert and Melvin Simon

The Simons are billionaires, who also own the Indiana Pacers. They are pretty much America's biggest shopping mall owners. Although the Simons 81 (Mel) and 73 (Herb), Mel's oldest son David (46) is the current CEO of the company. I suspect the control of the Fever will remain in the hands of the Simons.

New York Liberty -- Cablevision (Charles and James Dolan)

The Dolans run the New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden as well. Cablevision earns about $5 billion a year, and a deal is in process to make the company private. I doubt that the Dolans are going to run out of cash anytime soon.

Washington Mystics -- Lincoln Holdings

The partnership known as Lincoln Holdings also owns the Washington Capitals, the Wizards, and the Verizon Center. The majority owner is Ted Leonsis. Leonsis's money is computer money -- he's an AOL executive. I would venture to say that he's financially secure. However, the team's president is another partner at Lincoln Holdings, Sheila Johnson. Johnson is the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and a billionaire.

Houston Comets -- Hilton Koch

Koch acquired the Comets in 2007. He's the owner of a furniture chain in Houston that makes a lot of wacky ads. Like two of the other owners on this list, putting down $10 million got him a WNBA franchise. My suspicion is that the Houston franchise is in deeper trouble than anyone lets on. Paige Mann, an employee of the Comets under Kock, states that not only did she take a pay cut from the agreed-upon offer for her to assume a basketball operations role, but that she was simply not paid...at all. Oh well, if Koch fails, maybe Mattress Mack will take over.

Los Angeles Sparks -- Carla Christofferson and Kathy Goodman

Christofferson is a full partner at age 31 in the law firm O’Melveny & Myers, a major Los Angeles entertainment-industry law firm. Kathy Goodman helped start an independent production and finance company called Intermedia Films and was a former executive. She now works at a high school teacher. Together, they put up the $10 million it took to buy the Sparks.

Minnesota Lynx -- Glen Taylor

Glen Taylor is a billionaire and was an influential Minnesota politician, making his money from the manufacture of specialized printed materials, like wedding invitations. He owns the Timberwolves and would like to own the Twins and the Vikings. Worth over $2 billion.

Phoenix Mercury -- Robert Sarver

Sarver is the current majority owner of the Mercury. He was the founder of the National Bank of Arizona, which for a long time was Arizona's largest independent bank. He also acquired several other banks, serves as CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation and is the owner of the Phoenix Suns. He is worth around $400 million.

Sacramento Monarchs -- The Maloof Family

Headed by Joe and Gavin Maloof, the Maloofs made their cash in hotels, casinos, and alcohol distribution. Each of the Maloof brothers is supposedly worth $100 million.

San Antonio Silver Stars -- Peter Holt

Holt made his cash in farm equipment, building up a small Caterpillar dealership into one of the largest in the country. He's worth $80 million, and thankfully for the Silver Stars, he's a big believer in supporting the San Antonio community.

Seattle Storm -- Force 10 Hoops LLC

Force 10 Hoops LLC is a group of four Storm season-ticket holders that wanted to make sure the Storm stayed in Seattle if the SuperSonics left. They are the only female owners in the WNBA. They range from a philanthropist to an ex-Deputy Mayor to two former executives at Microsoft. They pooled together the $10 million dollars it took to purchase the Storm.