Fan: Is there going to be a bus trip to Portland?

KB: June 2nd at Portland is our only national television game. It will be live on ESPN2 so there will be information contained in your season ticket holder packet which will be mailed around May 3rd and there will be all kinds of information about a lot of the new programs this year including our Kid’s Club. We are going to take advantage of what a great asset Doppler is, especially with young children and for the first time, we are launching a Kid’s Club. We are going to have fan loyalty program this year called Hustle Rewards and give you the opportunity to earn points and win special prizes by coming to more than one game every season. We will definitely do the fan caravan again to Portland this year and hopefully make it bigger than we did last year. I think we’ve got 300 or 400 tickets reserved already for that game and we hope to fill it.

Fan: I know the Mariners had an impact on us last year in attendance. Do you anticipate that again this year? When you are planning the schedule, did they look at that at all?

KB: We have a master calendar of all of our marketing promotions and sales initiatives and one of the first things we did when the Mariners’ schedule came out was plopped all of there home dates on our calendar. We can’t do much about it, but we need to be mindful of when we are going head to head against them. Not only with games, but other promotional activities they have. But I think what’s happened with the Mariners and what is happening with the Sonics is great for us. We are going to try and take advantage of this community getting excited about its professional sports teams again. So, we will view it as a benefit and continue to root not only the Mariners but certainly hope that our brothers the Sonics go deep into the playoffs because that helps us too.

Fan: When do you think that, I guess it’s for both of you, when do you think that player salaries will rise, maybe not to the level of the NBA but at least above the level of a marketing executive?

CD: Well, I think we need to understand that from our perspective we’ve got to grow this league. This is just our sixth year. The NBA is what, 55 years old. And so we are way, way ahead of where they were at age six, so that’s my perspective. We’ve got to be patient.

KB: I think the other thing that I would say, I mean I think the league is very mindful of how important the players are and making sure the players share in the upside of the growth side of the league, but we are still at a very challenging time for a league that’s in it’s infancy. We are celebrating our sixth season in the most long standing professional women sports league. But we’ve got a lot of work cut out for us. I think as a credit to our players is they approved the collective bargaining agreement for another season, but I’m sure after this 2002 season is over, and we go into the offseason, those discussions will begin again. But I think as much as the league and the players can work together to make it a win-win situation is in the best interest of the health of the league.

Fan: … [couldn’t understand, but it is a follow up to the salary question]

KB: Well, there’s a built in increase every year. It’s very modest. [Charmin makes a face at the use of the word modest] But there’s an automatic increase built in every year. [crowd laughs at Charmin’s antics] Yeah, I’m not going to, I won’t share financial numbers but when you are operating a young business and again, we can’t emphasis enough that we are only in our sixth year, you know, we have yet to turn a profit as a league and the league is losing a significant amount of money as are the individual teams and I can attest to that and the players have to share in that growth and the short term pain because we are in this for the long term and we can’t make decisions shortsightedly. And being a part of the American Basketball League as many of us were, that league made some mistakes in terms of its shortsighted business acumen and I think it cost the league some financial stability. So the WNBA is trying to make the decisions in the short term are going to insure long term health. And I think modest player salarys are really one of those decisions.

CD: But at the same time, don’t lose sight of the fact that the WNBA allows the players to work in the off season, allows them to go to Europe and make additional income and allows them to have other jobs, be coaches to supplement their income. And that, and they will continue to do that until they feel like the salaries are such that that is not necessary. One more question.

Fan: Along with that, I’d like to say that in general since more women are your audience, women’s incomes by and large are less. And I would like to see the ticket prices stay modest so that women and young girls can always come and enjoy the Storm like they can now.

CD: Is there any chance of just given all women a discount? [crowd laughs] If that’s in fact true, that women are make less money. Is that true?

KB: We are equal opportunity. We give everybody a discount. And I think one of the things that’s really important about the WNBA and in my position as we look at the long term health of our organization, we really want to keep this product affordable. And the fact that we have over 1,000 tickets in the lower bowl of one of the best basketball buildings in the league where you can buy tickets for $8 to watch professional women’s basketball. That is significant value. And we are working really hard in our long term plan to try to make sure we maintain an affordable price point because we want the building full and we want it full with enthusiastic fans and we all know that families and kids add a tremendous amount of positive energy to the atmosphere as well. So we want to make sure that we can do that. That’s part of the economic model certainly. Last question.

Fan: Just a comment. Along with everything you are saying I think it is really important to remember that the difference between what the WNBA players are making and the NBA is disgusting. And I think it’s unconscionable. Let the NBA, let the brothers get in there and help. Let them donate some money.

CD: Are you asking a question or making a statement?

Fan: I’m making a statement.

CD: Are you campaigning, are you running for office? Hey, you guys have been really appreciate you coming out tonight. This is a great way to kick off what’s getting ready to start our third season. Let’s not forget that Friday morning 8:00 o’clock draft party. ESPN will be broadcasting live from in there in our war room and you will be able to see right here. We will make the first pick and then I’ll come out here and talk to you guys that are here. [Note: she says "make the first pick" — a little slip?] So if you want to join us for breakfast and the draft, that’s Friday morning. Karen, is there anything else?

KB: Yeah, last thing. A few announcements to make. Make sure, if you haven’t already, make sure you get your Sonic tickets for tonight [the fans that attended received Sonics tickets]. We are glad you could all join us for the final regular season home game and certainly as enthusiastic as you are the start of the Storm season, we certainly hope you will root the Sonics on into the playoffs. There will be a shuttle van that will go to the Key Arena. It’s such a beautiful night most of you will probably walk, but if for some reason you want a ride, there will be one van that will be making trips back and forth. Make sure you get your bobblehead, Nate McMillian bobblehead to go with your Lin Dunn bobblehead [Coach does her impression of a bobblehead]. And again, I can’t express enough our excitement and tonight is really the first opportunity for us to see all of your familiar faces. Lot of great things to come. We are going to hear a couple of more songs from the Sister Guitar Band. If I’m not mistaken, they’ve written these specifically for the Storm.

CD: Alright.

KB: There are ballots over there. They would love for you to cast your ballot for your favorite song. Thanks for coming.

CD: I might fine you guys that came in late though.

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