In the W: Los Angeles Sparks Move Operations to Convention Center Nearby, Turn Back the Clock to 1997 The team will return to Staples Center on Aug. 15 vs. Indiana By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor
Monday, June 21, 2021 - 7:00 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
After a year filled with calls for gender and racial equity, it's time to celebrate the 25th season of the WNBA. Similar to At the Ballpark, On the Gridiron, On the Hardwood, At the Rink, and On the Pitch, SVG's In the W highlights the efforts, technological solutions, and creative ideas of a handful of production crews in the league.
Some of the most successful players in the 25-year history of the WNBA have donned a Sparks jersey, including Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie and future Hall of Famer Candace Parker. Active players - such as six-time All-Star, 2012 Rookie of the Year, and 2016 MVP and WNBA Champion Nneka Ogwumike - are inscribing their names in the league's record book. This year, the franchise will write a new chapter by playing their first 12 home games away from Staples Center and honoring their storied legacy.
Honestly, it has been an adventure, says Danelle Winfield, senior director, game operations, entertainment and promotions, Los Angeles Sparks. [This offseason], it felt like I had an apprenticeship at the same time as my full-time job in order to build this entire arena out.
Logistical Challenge: Organization Moves Next Door to Convention Center
The Los Angeles Sparks' production team is operating at the Los Angeles Convention Center until August.
The team's preparations for its 2021 season took place in an unfamiliar setting. To accommodate the late start to the NBA regular season and the postseason schedules of the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, the Sparks packed their things and headed a few steps from Staples Center to a temporary home at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC). The process called for a massive amount of planning on two fronts: the logistics of the large-scale moving of the Sparks' home court and a production strategy for entertaining fans attending games in a new venue.
We have a new court, but it was also the scorer's table, baskets, rigging, behind-the-scenes area, and stands, Winfield says. I worked with over 18 vendors in the middle of the pandemic. We're continuing to deal with not only the [health and safety] rules of the county but the different procedures coming down from the WNBA.
One of the vendors that was used throughout the process was Pipe Dreams, a local event-planning company that assists with project management, draping, scenic walls, props, tents, fencing, and more.
In the beginning, we wanted to conceptualize the feel of [our show] and how it would work out best for us, says Winfield. We hired some amazing talent because I was never going to let go of my work in game operations, entertainment, and promotions.
Wubble Download: Workflows From the 2020 Regular Season in Florida Before the gargantuan challenge of settling into a whole new building, the organization was tasked with providing an exciting atmosphere in the confined WNBA bubble, more commonly known as the Wubble. Heading into the shortened 2020 season, the Sparks had a fair amount of momentum after a successful 2019 campaign. On the court, the squad went on a 14-game winning streak at home, finished in third place in the Western Conference, and made a run to the WNBA Semifinals.
Los Angeles Sparks' Danelle Winfield (left) and Debra Moton are two key members of the game-presentation staff.
Off the court, Winfield and her colleagues were recognized for their stellar work, earning multiple awards: 2019 WNBA Franchise of the Year, Ticket Sales Performance of the Year, Marketing Performance of the Year and #1 in Entertainment, Satisfaction, and Service (according to the WNBA Fan Analytics conducted by Evolved Experience Solutions).
2019 feels like a long time ago, says Winfield. There have been a lot of changes, but, as I reflect back, everything that we did was to basically build a home-court advantage. We made sure to highlight dance cams, play hype videos, and work with our entertainment teams.
With these accolades, the production staff were in relatively good shape to develop engaging content under the difficult circumstances of the bubble. Down at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, a handful of production professionals handled the playout of content, but, in terms of the actual creation of the material, Winfield and company worked together to produce the elements.
To make our players feel like we were with them, she says, we wanted to make sure our theming was seen and our music was present. It was everything that I would do for a regular game day, but I packaged it nicely and sent it on [to the Wubble]. It was hard to watch, because I felt a little disconnected [from what I love], but I'm excited to finally get to produce shows again in front of fans.
Back to the Beginning: Celebrating Inaugural Game With '90s-Themed Content In the summer of 1997, eight franchises founded the juggernaut that is the WNBA. Four of the eight - the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, and Sacramento Monarchs - have since dissolved, and one was rebranded from the Utah Starzz to the San Antonio Silver Stars to the San Antonio Stars and, eventually, to the current Las Vegas Aces. The remaining three have remained a pillar of the league over the past quarter of a century: Phoenix Mercury, New York Liberty, and the Sparks. The Liberty and Sparks are etched in WNBA lore as participants in the league's first-ever game on June 21, 1997. The current year will honor the legacy of both the league and the franchise.
The Sparks are celebrating the WNBA's 25th Anniversary with their Rooted in LA slogan.
It's
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Creative software developer Foundry today announced the latest developments on Nuke Stage. A purpose-built application for end-to-end virtual production and in-...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
12/05/2026
CVP, one of Europe's leading suppliers of professional video and broadcast solutions, has appointed Randy Koeman as Sales Manager, Netherlands, marking anot...
12/05/2026
Taiwan Television has expanded its HD content ingest workflow capabilities by investing in the PlayBox Neo Suite - a leading multi-channel multi-server UHD/HD/S...
12/05/2026
Jigsaw24 is strengthening its media team with the appointment of Tom Laker as Client Director and Ashish Chauhan as Project Manager. These strategic hires bring...
12/05/2026
Broadcast playout leader showcases hybrid IP infrastructure and workflow automation with Videoland deployment as regional benchmark...
12/05/2026
dzjinius, the all-in-one production management platform for the media and entertainment industry, will showcase its centralised approach to production workflows...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
In the W: Los Angeles Sparks Move Operations to Convention Center Nearby, Turn Back the Clock to 1997 The team will return to Staples Center on Aug. 15 vs. Indiana By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor 
