KQED's Forum Ballers, Unicorns, Valkyries, Oh My! Bay Area Sports Teams Bring Sparkle to the Summer
May 16, 2025
Marisa Ingemi, a women's sports reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, discusses the rise of the Golden State Valkyries, the new WNBA franchise that's capturing the Bay Area's heart. Bryan Carmel, co-founder of the Oakland Ballers, shares insights on creating a fan-driven baseball experience in Oakland. Meanwhile, Venky Harinarayan, co-owner of the San Francisco Unicorns, sheds light on bringing T20 cricket excitement to U.S. audiences. The conversation highlights community engagement and the revitalization of local sports culture.
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Valkyries' Strategic Launch
- The Golden State Valkyries are the Bay Area's first WNBA expansion team since 2008, backed by Warriors ownership.
- They combine experienced veterans and rookies, aiming to build a competitive and exciting franchise at Chase Center.
Strong Fan Base Ignites Valkyries
- Valkyries set record selling over 10,000 season tickets before playing a game, showing strong local enthusiasm.
- The games draw large crowds with an intense atmosphere likened to Warriors regular season games.
* Oakland Ballers’ Community Rise*
- Oakland Ballers transformed an unplayable Little League field into a vibrant ballpark attracting 4,000 fans and community support.
- Fan participation includes over 40 personally inked tattoos and a fan-driven investment model with 4,000 local investors.