The WNBA is surely having a great run in the current years. With the league witnessing a significant surge in its cash flow, new teams are also coming in to expand the dynamics of the game further. And one such team is Cleveland. Despite some staunch opposition from the likes of Sophie Cunningham, the franchise is all set for its WNBA journey. While they are not slated to return for three years, they have already started to lay the foundations. As the first step, the franchise has appointed Allison Howard as the first president.
Now, the Rock Entertainment Group did not make this decision in haste. In fact, Howard and REG have a deep relationship. She has previously served as the group’s Chief Commercial Officer and EVP. In embracing a new position, Howard shared some interesting ideas for the future.
Allison Howard Wants To Bank On Backing From Cavaliers
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Front Office Sports, Howard had a lot to say. She initially stated that the franchise name hasn’t yet been finalized. Howard also hinted that they might go with ‘The Rockers.’ For the uninitiated, Cleveland played under the team name from 1997 to 2003.
Next, she emphasized the most important part. With significant backing from the Cavaliers, Howard and co. are eagerly looking to bank on it. And she did have some exciting news to deliver. She stated that already, many brands that are currently not listed with the NBA or the WNBA have shown significant interest.
“Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Columbus are really important markets for us. We’re hearing from a lot of brands in those areas that do not have any affiliation with an NBA or WNBA team that are coming to us and asking how they can work with us, even though they’re two or three hours away,” said Howard.
Introducing the WNBA Cleveland President of Business Operations, Allison Howard. ✨
— Cleveland WNBA (@clevelandwnba) August 19, 2025
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Surely, such a statement comes as a positive step towards the WNBA’s expansion. Especially with the Connecticut Sun recently selling for a reported $325 million, things are looking pretty bright for the league. Meanwhile, coming back to Cleveland, to add further joy to their story, the franchise is already boasting a massive season ticket deposit.
Cleveland Recently Celebrated 5000 Season Tickets Before 2028 Debut
Cleveland vanished without notice during the early 2000s. However, now that they are coming back to the league once again, the franchise has ensured that they do so with a significant stir. In a recent update, the franchise reported about overcoming a threshold that many renowned clubs would be jealous of.
Nick Barlage of the Rock Entertainment Group stated that the club had an initial goal of acquiring 100 season ticket deposits. But in no time, it has crossed a whopping 5000 mark. And with such an overwhelming response coming in, Barlage is hoping to reach a long-term goal of 20,000 deposits.