The Sports and Expositions Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County has enlisted the services of consulting firm CAA ICON to evaluate the city’s potential as a location for an NBA or WNBA team. State Sen. Wayne Fontana, who serves on the authority’s board, confirmed this news to KDKA-TV.
In October 2023, KDKA-TV reported that the authority was considering conducting a study to explore the possibility of bringing a basketball team to Pittsburgh. The focus of this study would be on assessing interest and support for a basketball team in the region. Although Pittsburgh has had teams like the Pittsburgh Pipers and Pittsburgh Condors in the past, which were part of the American Basketball Association in the 1970s, attendance at their games was low, and when the ABA merged with the NBA, Pittsburgh did not have a team.
Fontana spoke with KDKA-TV in October 2023 about his optimism regarding a women’s basketball team in Pittsburgh. While he acknowledged that an NBA team could be a significant draw for sports fans in the city, he saw potential for a successful women’s basketball team as well. Fontana expressed excitement about bringing another professional sports team to Pittsburgh and believed that it would attract more visitors and boost economic growth in the area.
