“We received a call from league management before the expansion process concluded to let us know Quebec City’s bid would not be selected. The league was extremely complimentary about the quality of the bid, the infrastructure, and the reception we...
“We received a call from league management before the expansion process concluded to let us know Quebec City’s bid would not be selected. The league was extremely complimentary about the quality of the bid, the infrastructure, and the reception we gave them,” Tremblay explained. “However, the league had a desire to move westward as part of its growth strategy, while the other selected markets were major metropolitan areas that were important to them,” he added. [...] First, the league wanted to allow Vancouver and Seattle to play road games without constantly having to travel across the continent. But perhaps more importantly, the PWHL did not want to project the image of a league that was too regional — or worse, too Canadian. [...] For league executives, choosing Quebec City over a major American market risked reinforcing the perception of a league too geographically concentrated and too dependent on the Canadian market — a challenge when trying to attract major American broadcasters and sponsors. Because at the end of the day, that’s where the money is. [...] In the short term, the objective is to grow the league. But over the longer term, the real goal appears to be securing a major U.S. national television or streaming rights deal. That is where the true financial engine of professional sports lies — and women’s professional sports are no exception anymore. submitted by /u/FrenchPagan [link] [comments]
