Yesterday, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sent a letter to the WNBA.
The letter comes after months of conflict between the WNBA and the Mohegan tribeowner of Connecticut Sun dal 2003. In exploring the investment options for the team, the tribe received two offers (of these, the first would include the transfer of the team a Bostonthe second instead a Hartford) for a total of 325 million dollars.
Any sale and transfer, however, must be approved by Council of Governors.
The League initially indicated not to consider any of the two offers acceptable, claiming that the cities that have already crossed the expansion process would have the priority on those that did not do it.
Subsequently, the WNBA He offered to buy the Suns for 250 million dollarswhich would allow the League to transfer them to a market of his choice. But the tribe did not accept the offer, believing that the price does not reflect the market value.
Blumenthalmember of the Senate justice commission and previously prosecutor general of State per 20 yearssaid that: “He will ask for coercive investigations and actions to the competent federal authorities if WNBA will undertake any action aimed at hindering or limiting the negotiations of the Connecticut”.
He warned the League not to interfere in the negotiations between the Mohegan tribe and the potential new owner groups of the Connecticut Sunas: “Any further attempt by WNBA to use its considerable power of governance and market on the Sun, to limit or dictate the negotiations with the state of the Connecticut, could constitute an unreasonable restriction on trade and an interference with the market that would violate the anti -retro federal laws”.
The letter of Blumenthal has assumed the history of the Sunone of the most important deductibles of the WNBA, and claimed that the proposal of the State: “It fully guarantees the continuous commercial and professional success of the Connecticut Sun, and responds to the concerns reported by WNBA regarding the expansion”.
“Hartford has already demonstrated the ability to attract the fans, hosting in particular the Uconn men’s and female basketball matches, two of the country’s most successful university basketball programs in the country, as well as the NCAA tournament matches” The senator wrote. “In addition, transferring the team outside Connecticut would deprive the New England of a Wnba team and compromise the stability and growth that the Sun have reached over the years in the state, which has made them the success franchise that are today”.
Thursday, ESPN reported that the property is now in negotiation with The state of the Connecticut on a proposal in which the funds affiliated to State they would be used to acquire a minority share of the franchise. Based on this offer, the games would be played both a Hartford than to Uncasvillecurrent seat of the team, ea Hartford A training center would be built. The agreement would also entail a higher evaluation than the offer of 250 million dollars advanced by the League.
The tribe and the League should soon meet to discuss the various options for the future.
