Jennifer Azzi San Jose Lasers

San Jose Lasers

American Basketball League (1996-1998)

Tombstone

Born: February 1996 – ABL founding franchise
Folded: December 22, 1998

First Game: October 18, 1996 (W 78-70 vs. Atlanta Glory)
Last Game:
December 20, 1998 (L 94-85 vs. Portland Power)

ABL Championships: None

Arenas

San Jose Event Center (4,550)11997-98 American Basketball League Media Guide

San Jose Arena (8,000 – lower bowl)21997-98 American Basketball League Media Guide

Marketing

Team Colors: Green (PMS 347), Black, Silver & White31998-99 San Jose Lasers Media Guide

Radio:

  • 1998-99: KBPA (1220 AM)

Radio Broadcasters:

  • 1998-99: Tim Becwar (play-by-play) & Krista Blunk (color)

Ownership

Investor/Operator:

  • 1996-97: American Basketball League
  • 1997-1998: Joe Lacob

Attendance

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Sources:

  • 1997-98 American Basketball League Media Guide (1996-97 Figures)
  • 1998-99 San Jose Lasers Media Guide (1997-98 Figures)
  • Fun While It Lasted box score analysis of all 63 1998-99 ABL games from NewspapersArchives.com.

 

Background

The San Jose Lasers were a franchise in the women’s American Basketball League. The ABL debuted in October 1996 and briefly competed against the NBA-backed Women’s National Basketball Association. The ABL was formed in anticipation of a strong performance by the women’s U.S. Olympic basketball team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The women won gold and the ABL succeeded in signing most of the U.S. national team players to contracts.

The ABL was a single-entity organization with league ownership of franchises and player contracts.  Similar to Major League Soccer, the ABL did allow investors to purchase operating rights to individual franchises, although few teams found any takers.  The Lasers were an exception.  Venture capitalist Joe Lacob of Kleiner, Perkins, Caulfield & Byers made an equity investment in the ABL in the spring of 1997 and later purchased operating rights to the Lasers shortly before the team’s second season got under way.

1997-98 San Jose Lasers Media Guide from the American Basketball League

Performance & Fan Support

The Lasers split their home games between the San Jose Event Center, where they held the majority of their games, and occasional dates at the larger San Jose Arena. The Lasers posted losing records during both full ABL seasons, but still managed to sneak into the playoffs both years.  Their best performance was in the 1997-98 campaign, when they advanced to the playoff semi-finals before losing to the eventual champions, the Columbus Quest.

The Lasers averaged 3,181 fans per game in 1996-97, but picked up considerably the next season to 4,773.  The Lasers drew 4,447 through seven home dates in 1998-99 before the ABL abruptly shut down and declared bankruptcy on December 22, 1998 midway through the league’s third season.

Following the demise of the ABL, Lasers investor Lacob became a minority partner in the Boston Celtics in 2006.  In 2010, a Lacob-led group acquired ownership of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors for $450 million.

 

San Jose Lasers Video

Lasers vs. Richmond Rage at San Jose Arena. 1996-97 season footage.

 

Links

American Basketball League Media Guides

American Basketball League Programs

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