The figures floating around are something like $85,000,000 in WUSA losses from years one and two. Of this money, something like $12,800,000 went to player salaries. The league played less than 200 games, so even if it lost an exorbitant $100,000 per game (travel, accommodation, and tv included), that only comes out to $20 million more. That leaves over $50 million that I'm at a loss to explain. Any help?
Don't be fooled by what is in print. the actual figure is much higher. The initial investment by the operators was meant to last a few years. They lost that whole amount by June of season 1!!! So the exact figure is really about 20million more than what we all read for year 1. Last years numbers I don't know...
Perhaps some things to consider if you haven't already... TV production costs of the TNT, CNNSI, PAX, ESPN2, RSN games. Front office costs for the league and teams...keep in mind that in Year 1 they were located in NYC where I am guessing it was hella expensive..thus the move to share office space in the ATL. Television time buys both national and local. Stadium rentals. Nickerson, Villanova, Herndon revamping. Advertising costs.
Don't forget executive compensation packages for everyone - the dude who was let go initially - the person who replaced him and so on. You pay the salary then the bonus and then the severance - so these costs can get quite expensive. WUSA has to pay for insurance - travel - the works. It gets expensive - aside from the money that has to be poured into advertising and PR.
Coaches salaries, trainers, gym fees, renting practice venues. Oh and I don't think the league put any money into Herndon... that was done for the Olympics.
$85,000,000! That's not good. I have been hearing that this is a make-or-brake year for the league. I noticed that they cut back alot on the freebies and marketing in year #2 from year #1.
The old age is getting to you Dr. Lane . Prior to the Beat taking up residence at Herndon in 2002 the field was converted from fake stuff to grass. Oh yeah...I think Torero had some reconstruction prior to the 2001 season as well.
Not too mention they put in new sod in at Bobby Dodd (inaugeral season home field), and resurfaced their practice facility at Georgia Tech - no thanks from George O'Leary.
Another way to look at this is by comparing WUSA teams to women's college teams. The college teams have bigger squads, take long road trips (some have tours of Europe), and if you count the spring season, play more competitive games than WUSA teams. The San Jose CyberRays play and train in college facilities. Their salary budget is maybe double what a school like Stanford would pay for scholarships and staff. The 'Rays also travel about twice as much and attract about five times as many fans. I could see their costs being double or triple, but it appears that they're multiplied by a factor of ten. Somebody pointed to TV ... I wonder if there's some shady accounting going on. When WUSA buys TV time, is it essentially buying from its owners?
And don't forget the free meals they serve to the press. Have you seen how big some of these guys are?
The freebies ... cutting back on tossing those got-damn T-shirts into the stands in the middle of games? No more inflatable penises? Great. Now we can watch the soccer. Damn.
After earning a Bachelor's Degree in marketing from the University of Georgia where she was a member of the Lady Bulldogs Tennis Team, ______ began her career as a market research analyst with Southeastern Marketing in Stewart, Florida in 1986. A year later she became marketing director of International Sportsman, a hunting and fishing promotions and events firm based in West Palm Beach. From 1988-89 _____ served as the marketing director of the United States Croquet Association, where she managed and promoted all aspects of the national governing body. Guess whose bio this is? And you ask where the money went? Any other questions?!
Well, it's Stuart, Florida, first off. So I'm not so concerned about where the money went as where the ew came from.
Very interesting. Did this unnamed and unknown person make bad decisions on how to spend the cash? I have no idea who it is or how the money was spent.
According to Yahoo maps, there is a city called Stuart, Florida, but no such city as Stewart, Florida.
Ain't that the truth! If those in the league office are not even capable of using spellcheck, how can one think that they are capable of running a successful league? Your confidence, or lack thereof, is a perfect example of how people begin buying into the gloom and doom! Thanks for the time!