Cornell University's ILR School Philosophies of Baseball Team M anagement Pages 6-10 ILR Sports Business Society 2015-2016 Ü I £ For more information on % Sports, Inc. or the ^ ILR Sports Business Society, £ please contact Advisor Kevin Harris > at [email protected]. Executive Board Magazine Staff ggi Advisor Kevin Harris yfc, Co-President Sarah Gilman '16 Editor-in-Chief Jason Lefkovitz "16 Co-President Ethan Cramer Gibb Layout Editor Sabrina Smith #18 i wh President of Magazine Jason Lefkovitz '16 Associate Editor Karthik Sekharan '17 VP of Magazine Karthik Sekharan "I LVr/fer Natalie Allen'19 m President of Radio Ben Denson "16 SK- Wr/fer Stephen Driscoiri8 Jjq* VP of Radio Ben Gilman '18 M/r/fer Ben Gershenfeld '19 President of Blog Adam Malz '16 ^ Writer Jamie Hill'18 tßu VP of Blog Skyler Kanfer '17 tVr/fer Damian O'Sullivan "17 VP of Events Josh Klein '18 £ Writer Sam Robiner'19 VP of Operations Matthew Hakimian r^j Writer Madeleine Roglich '18 ^ W. Writer Daniel Solomon '19 Co-VP of Marketing Sabrina Smith '18 MJ* Co-VP of Marketing Alex Zalesne '18 f y+if The ILR Sports Business Society, an independent student ^ Director of Finance Evan Lefkovitz '16 *"j- - organization located at Cornell University, produced and is Director of Career | responsible for the content of this publication. This publica- t'on was not reviewed or approved by, nor does it necessarily Services Alicia Glick'17 express or reflect the policies or opinions of, Cornell University or its designated representatives. Volume VIII, Issue 1: Fall 2015 1 LA A tv 'iV v vl & i g i v Also Featuring /V SrT jJ■TV v ;> P u -.t ml- jci ! Will the WNBA Stay Afloat? By Madeleine Roglich Page 4 Current Philosophies Final Destination: Los Angeles - of Baseball Team The Possibility of Relocation in Management the NFL By Stephen Driscoll Page 11 The NBA's New Fashion Statement: Corporate Logos on MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Uniforms? Out with the Old, in with the By Ben Gershenfeld Youth: Why MLB General Page 13 Managers Should Build Their The NHL's Fork in the Road: Teams Around Young Talent Sin City or Quebec City By Daniel Solomon By Natalie Allen Page 6 Page 15 Wins for Sale: A Look at The Story of Dude Perfect: the Price of a Win in Major Redefining What it Means to be League Baseball a Professional Athlete By Jamie Hill By Sam Robiner Page 17 Page 8 Legal Concerns in the Booming Industry of Daily Fantasy Sports By Damian O'Sullivan Page 19 Will the WNBA Stay Afloat? Madeleine Roglich ‘18 “becoming interested in the WNBA is not airtime to women in 2009 (1.4 percent of so simple as finding value in it. Enjoying all coverage) than it did a decade earlier The Women’s National Basketball the league [on a consistent basis] requires (2.2 percent).9 This lack of coverage also Association (WNBA) was formed in 1996 attention that many sports fans may already extends beyond sports news shows to tele­ and began play in June of 1997 after it was be giving to the NBA, the NFL, college casts of live games. Specifically, “[only] approved by the National Basketball Asso­ football, and the other more established 30 live [WNBA] games [are] televised ciation (NBA) Board of Governors.1 In the options.”7 Thus, unless a WNBA fan has a each season on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and mind of the Board, the new league would vested interest in, or specific allegiance to, WatchESPN.”10 In contrast, under the mas­ be a great venture for the NBA: NBA ex­ a certain team or a specific player, said fan sive new TV agreement between the NBA ecutives were tapping into the previously may simply not attend games. The only way and ESPN/Tumer to take effect at the start unexplored market that was professional to attract such casual fans, then (and thus of the 2016-2017 NBA season, the NBA women’s basketball in the U.S, where more deviate their attention from other sports will have 164 nationally televised games and more women were playing sports such leagues) is to make the WNBA fan expe­ annually.11 Although one may point out that as basketball.2 However, the WNBA lasted rience worthwhile and memorable. How­ the sheer difference in scope between these 3 seasons before it already found itself sur­ ever, even a cursory observation of WNBA two leagues could explain this disparity, I rounded by red ink.3 Yet this trend seemed arenas across the country will tell you that assert that the disparity is still important poised to turn around, for keen observers the WNBA has not created such experienc­ to acknowledge because it illustrates the of the WNBA’s marketability acknowl­ es. For instance, compared to other sports WNBA’s struggle for adequate exposure to edged a burgeoning pool of prospective leagues with more money, the WNBA does sports fans. fans. Specifically, “the growing popularity not have as many promotions, such as The WNBA also currently suf­ of women’s college basketball, as well as giveaways and in-game entertainment, for fers from a “talent drain,” as some of the the growing number of women who have attendees.8 Without best players in the league played sports, [had] helped create an audi­ such extra engage­ low fan turnout have recently been find­ ence that didn’t exist in the league’s early ment, fans could ing better opportunities years.’’4 Unfortunately, this reversal of for­ reason that they are can undermine the abroad. For example, Di­ tune has not materialized, as the league’s better off watching energy and intensity ana Taurasi, one of the the game on TV or, business struggles continue even today. that sports fans best all-around players in To begin, the WNBA has encountered even worse, watch­ the league, received $1.5 stagnant attendance at its games.5 This ing highlights after­ revel when million from her Russian problem has now perhaps even worsened, wards. Furthermore, attending a sporting team to sit out of the WN­ as the 2015 season featured the lowest at­ it is worth noting BA’s season this past sum­ tendance rate in the history of the league.6 that low attendance event, which could mer. In contrast, ESPN re­ I believe that this trend can be partially ex­ could bring about dissuade even more ports that she makes only plained by the WNBA’s struggles to keep an additional down­ $107,000 as a member fans engaged while they’re simultaneous­ ward pull on future fans from coming to of the WNBA’s Phoenix ly attracted to competing sports leagues. attendance. Specifi­ the games in the fu­ Mercury.12 Surely, no one As stated by sports reporter Eric Freeman, cally, low fan turn­ would wisely turn down out can undermine ture.” Diana’s olfer from the the energy and in­ Russians. This issue of tensity that sports fans revel when attend­ retaining top talent could actually destroy ing a sporting event, which could dissuade the WNBA’s fan base altogether, possibly even more fans from coming to the games alienating even the most passionate fans in the future. who count on the league to showcase the In light of this, one may think that the best women’s basketball in the world. WNBA could instead find popularity Despite all of these challenges, I would through the medium of television. How­ argue that the future is not necessarily ever, TV has really not been helpful either pessimistic for the WNBA, for there are in reaching fans, as the WNBA does not many things the league can do to stop the receive nearly as much coverage as other bleeding. To start, the league needs to be professional sports leagues. For example, more proactive in creating higher levels Photo courtesy of The New York Times according to a 2010 USC study, coverage of in-game entertainment and giveaways Even top WNBA players like Diana Taurasi of women’s sports has actually declined, earn less money to play in the WNBA in order to attract fans to the league. As than they do to play in other countries. with ESPN’s SportsCenter devoting less aforementioned, the WNBA is competing 4 Sports, Inc. Photo courtesy of Dave Schilling/Vice.com Such a plethora of empty seats is a common occurrence in arenas throughout the WNBA, a league struggling to attract fans to games. with other sports leagues for the attention Works Cited For You.” Deadspin. 6 Oct. 2014. of sports fans and thus needs to provide 1. “History - WNBA.” WNBA. 2015. 12. “Diana Taurasi’s decision to sit out should as enjoyable an experience as possible for 2. DeMause, Neil. “WNBA: Hoop Skills Not spark WNBA salary changes.” ESPN. 4 such fans. Second, in terms of media cov­ Enough for Women’s Teams.” AlJazeera Feb. 2015. erage, the league must discover additional America. 29 Aug. 2014. 3. DeMause, Neil. “WNBA: Hoop Skills Not ways to get their content to their audience. Enough for Women’s Teams.” AlJazeera For instance, paying for more games to America. 29 Aug. 2014. be live-streamed is a legitimate possibil­ 4. DeMause, Neil. “WNBA: Hoop Skills Not ity in this era of “cord-cutting.” Also, the Enough for Women’s Teams.” AlJazeera league can try and partner with particular America. 29 Aug. 2014. news stations to receive more primetime 5. “Attendance Project: WNBA.” Kenn.com news coverage that vast amounts of people Blog. 2015. will see. Furthermore, expansion of social 6.