Concerns About Charter Flights Are Raised by Brittney Griner’s Return and Free Agency
Due to safety concerns for her, Brittney Griner’s return to the WNBA this summer after being traded in a dramatic prisoner swap with Russia in December has collided with free agency, potentially complicating travel for the league.
The league will have to come up with a plan for the 6-foot-9 star if Griner, a free agent who has stated she will return to Phoenix, needs special travel arrangements, such as chartered flights. The team and the league will put a high priority on keeping Griner safe while on the road.
“We are very cognizant of BG’s unique situation,” The Associated Press was informed by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “We have planned and discussed it with security professionals. We’ll wait until BG signs with a team to make a statement, but we’re on BG’s side.”
When free agents are permitted to officially sign on Wednesday, that might happen.
Despite the fact that Griner’s circumstance is unique, other well-known players brought up the issue of charter flights, which teams have deemed to be too expensive.
All teams must fly commercially according to the current collective bargaining agreement; charter flights are not permitted. Both the union and the league would need to agree on any change to that.
“No one wants to make this work more than me,” Engelbert said. “That is why we are making such a strong effort to change the economic business model. While there have been improvements over the past few years, we won’t put the league’s ability to make money in danger. We are at a critical juncture in this situation.”
HOW MUCH WOULD WNBA FLIGHT CHARTERS COST?
According to Engelbert, the league would have to pay about $25 million a year for each of its 12 teams to charter flights to every game. The new 40-game WNBA schedule for this season, rising fuel prices, and other factors have caused this figure to rise by about $5 million from the commissioner’s earlier projections.
Each franchise would likely have to pay about $2 million to charter flights. Currently, each team’s air travel costs average around $150,000, according to two people with knowledge of the expenses. Due to their lack of authorization to speak publicly about the situation, the people spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
“We did it last year for the Finals and we have experience on how much it costs for routes we need to fly,” Engelbert said. “Our analysis is being followed and updated. As soon as we can, we’ll try to obtain an economic model to support this.”
IF A TEAM CHARTERS FLIGHTS, WHAT HAPPENS?
Teams could receive fines if they break the current CBA.
For using charter flights to travel to away games during the second half of that season, the New York Liberty were penalized a WNBA-record $500,000 in 2021.
WNBA, HAS FLIGHT SUBSIDIZING BEEN CONSIDERED?
Breanna Stewart, a coveted free agent who has narrowed her options to a few teams, including New York, has started a social media campaign to try to get chartered flights for the league.
She tweeted, “I would adore being a part of a deal that helps to subsidize charter travel for the entire WNBA. To ensure that we all travel in a way that prioritizes player health and safety and ultimately produces a better product, I would contribute my NIL, posts, and production hours. Who’s with me?”
Numerous WNBA and NBA players from the present and past showed their support. The league and the union, however, would need to vote on any modification to the travel restrictions.
“We would need a commitment to it in perpetuity,” Engelbert said. “That’s 250-300 million dollars. Look at the gate and media deal and sponsorship dollars. We’re not close to being able to afford $250 million over the next decade.”
CAN COLLEGE WOMEN’S TEAM BOOK FLIGHTS?
Charter flights are common among WNBA players. They travelled in college in this manner.
Equal opportunities for men’s and women’s athletic programs must be provided by universities under Title IX regulations. If a team is more than 400 miles from the location of their game, the NCAA will fly both the men’s and women’s teams there on a charter flight.
NBA teams moving between cities have no impact on what WNBA teams do because that law doesn’t apply to the pros.
Source: basketballnews.com
