Section 215
Fansided

Why Philadelphia Deserves the WNBA’s Next Expansion Team

By Isaiah De Los Santos

Sep 7, 2018; Seattle, WA, USA; The WNBA logo on a ball during the fourth quarter of game one of the WNBA finals between the Seattle Storm and the Washington Mystics at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2018; Seattle, WA, USA; The WNBA logo on a ball during the fourth quarter of game one of the WNBA finals between the Seattle Storm and the Washington Mystics at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The right market

Expansion from the WNBA isn’t just a logistics decision — it’s a business one, too. Expanding to new areas means an influx of additional fans and sources of revenue, which will hopefully help the league continue to grow.

Philadelphia presents a ripe, large market for the WNBA to tap into. The city boasts the fourth-most television stations in the entire United States, which means a ton of potential eyeballs. Viewers turn into fans, and some will turn into people who consistently spend money on streaming services, merchandise or tickets to actual games.

Philly’s passion for sports is well-known across pro leagues. I already mentioned the Big 3 (Eagles, Phillies, Sixers), but there’s also the fervent supporters of the Flyers in the NHL and Union in MLS as well.

Pennsylvania, as a whole, is just as valuable to the WNBA. Look at the state’s passion for its successful collegiate programs, like recent NCAA men’s champion Villanova or Big Ten powerhouse Penn State. Sports has taken root in every corner of this area, providing a boatload of possible future WNBA die-hards waiting to be converted.

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