I hope this is just a rumor, cuz if not…..(*insert side-eye*)
According to Page Six, James Dolan, Executive Director of The Madison Square Garden Company, and other MSG execs are entertaining the possibility of either selling or relocating the New York Liberty. According to Richard Johnson:
James Dolan and his Madison Square Garden executives are said to be considering the future of the New York Liberty, the professional women’s team that has been playing in the world’s busiest arena since 1997.
“They are looking to either move the team or sell the team,” a source told me. “They don’t make any money on the Liberty.”
Along with the Liberty, Dolan also owns the Knicks, New York Rangers, and is the CEO and President of Cablevision Systems Corporation. In addition to the regular home games of the aforementioned teams, the World’s Most Famous Arena also hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year, including major high school and college basketball tournaments and high-profile concerts and shows.
If this actually comes into fruition, it would be a devastating loss to in the WNBA community and New York City. The Liberty are one of the original teams founded when the WNBA was born, and has been home to some of the league’s elite talent both past and present, including Becky Hammon, Teresa Witherspoon, and Cappie Pondexter. In defense of the team, this season was rough. The team finally returned to playing at MSG after a 3 year stint at the Prudential Center in NJ when the Garden’s renovations were finally complete, as well as roster changes and trades throughout the season. The team missed the playoffs, and saw the departure of their head coach and NBA legend Bill Laimbeer. I’m nowhere near as business savvy as Dolan, but I would hold on tight and continue to support and invest in these gifted ladies. If he can continue to weather the storm (like he currently is doing with the 5-25 Knicks), it will turn around for the better.
We will continue to keep you posted on any further developments!
