GM CEO Mary Barra is among a coalition of investors working to establish a WNBA team in Detroit.
The proposal is spearheaded by Tom Gores, the owner of the Detroit Pistons, and also features Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp.
Should the proposal receive approval, the new team will compete at Little Caesars Arena located in Detroit.
The WNBA frequently becomes the target of jokes, yet a proposal for a Detroit team has drawn interest from multiple prominent investors. These reportedly consist of GM CEO Mary Barra, Sheila Ford Hamp, and KC Crain (the CEO of Crain Communications, which owns Automotive News, Automobilwoche, along with other publications).
The offer is being spearheaded by Tom and Holly Gores, the proprietors of the Detroit Pistons. Several professional athletes are also participating, including Grant Hill, Chris Webber, and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Additionally, there are several other investors, including the partners of certain individuals noted earlier.
Additionally: GM CEO Mary Barra Inquired About $29 Million Salary Following UAW Strike
In a press announcement, Gores stated, “This presents an exciting chance to bring the WNBA back to Detroit and inject more investment and economic activity into the city.” He stated that the bid “offers a unique chance for the league to complete the journey and achieve a long-desired homecoming in Detroit.”
That’s a rather indirect allusion to the Detroit Shock, which were introduced during the initial WNBA expansion. The team established multiple attendance records and secured three championships throughout their nearly ten-year period.
In 2009, the team declared their move to Tulsa, Oklahoma. That was a confusing decision, and they didn’t stay for long before eventually becoming the Dallas Wings a few years afterward.
If granted approval, Detroit’s new WNBA franchise would compete at Little Caesars Arena, currently the venue for the Pistons and Red Wings. Although the team would use an existing location, the proposal includes building a specialized practice area and team headquarters featuring specific courts, locker rooms, and fitness centers. Additionally, there is a public sports center aspect that is planned to feature a youth development academy along with “public-access youth basketball courts, volleyball courts, and multi-use fields for soccer, football, and lacrosse, equipped with seating for spectators.