Chicago's new WNBA team, the Sky, won their first regular season game last night, 83-82 over the Charlotte Sting. Nice start, but can they succeed in a city with so many other competing sports interests? Can they make a difference on the city's sports scene?
You would think as popular as basketball is in this town, a WNBA team would be a shoo-in for long-term success. But the team has a lot of competition with two major league baseball teams, soccer, women's softball, and numerous minor-league baseball teams. It's easy to get buried under all that competition. I've always believed there was room for a women's basketball team in Chicago.
Part of the problem is that the primary audience for the Sky is women, but most women are reluctant to commit to purchasing season tickets. They have to check their calendars -- the kids have soccer practice one day, there's a doctor appointment on another, and so on. They don't think to get the tickets, then find someone else to take them if they can't make the game. Guys don't have that problem. They'll buy season tickets first, then check their calendars second.
It will take a strong winning performance by the Sky, and some creative marketing ideas to get people to go to their games. Here's hoping that last night's victory will spark an interest in this team for the remainder of this season and for many seasons to come.
The Sky will face the defending champion Sacramento in the team's home opener Tuesday at the UIC Pavillion.
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