The WNBA could soon be returning to Cleveland.
The city of Cleveland is expected to land a new WNBA franchise, according to a report by the Sports Business Journal. An announcement could be made by the end of March.
The bid for the franchise was reportedly a league-record $250 million, and Cleveland has as much as a 90% chance to be awarded a WNBA team, according to the report. That $250 million figure could include additional factors beyond just the franchise bid.
If the announcement becomes final, Cleveland would be expected to join the the league for the 2028 WNBA season. Home games would be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, home to the Cavaliers and Monsters.
The franchise, according to the SBJ, would be known as the Cleveland Rockers, a reprisal of an original WNBA franchise that folded after the 2003 season when former owner Gordon Gund couldn’t sell the team because of revenue and attendance issues.
“While we are very optimistic about the competitive WNBA bid that we have submitted, we have not received any confirmation from the league about their finalists,” a Cavs spokesperson said in a statement.
The previous two franchises to join the WNBA — Toronto and Portland — paid $115 million and $125 million, respectively, as the price for a franchise has quickly grown because of the increased popularity in the league. That is largely attributed to the presence of second-year player and former Iowa star Caitlin Clark.
The WNBA could add up to three franchises. The league reportedly applied for trademarks for the names “Cleveland Rockers,” “Houston Comets,” “Detroit Shock” and the “Miami Sol” as it looks to add a 16th and possibly 17th and 18th franchises.
Dan Gilbert and the Cavs are constructing the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, part of Gilbert and Bedrock’s $3.5-billion Cuyahoga Riverfront Master Plan. The Cavs would operate out of and practice in that facility, while the Rockers would use the Cavs’ current training center in Independence. Further updates would be expected from Gilbert to improve the Independence facility as well.
Cleveland is reportedly one of 13 cities to bid for an WNBA franchise, along with St. Louis, Kansas City, Austin, Jacksonville, Nashville, Philadelphia, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Denver, Charlotte and Milwaukee.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: WNBA franchise potentially coming to Cleveland via owner Dan Gilbert
