Spurs replace Silver Dancers with a new ‘hype team’

The San Antonio Spurs announced they will replace the Silver Dancers with a co-ed “hype team.” The response has not been positive, however.

Part of the festivities for the San Antonio Spurs fans involved the Silver Dancers, the group of women that performed dance routines in front of the crowds, whether it was at halftime or during timeouts. However, after decades of existence, they will be no more for the 2018-19 season.

On Friday, the Spurs announced the replacement of the Silver Dancers with a co-ed “hype team.” It’s a “diverse array of family-friendly talents” and performers that will “participate in a variety of community events and public appearances.”

The Rick Maese of the Chicago Tribune noted it’s the result of recent complaints and lawsuits involving NFL cheerleaders, including a “topless photo shoot.” However, the Spurs pulled the Silver Dancers due to a “lack of fan interest,” as Jason Minnix of ESPN San Antonio reported.

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In an interview with the Washington Post, the founder of the Silver Dancers, Rosalyn Jones, said the team was always concerned about the squad’s look but did not hear any complaints:

“This is a very conservative market, and the team has always been very concerned about the look of the girls and things like that,” Jones said in a telephone interview Monday. “But I’m telling you I’ve never seen and never heard anything derogatory. The girls are all professional women, they know the rules and standards and they know they’re ambassadors for the Spurs. And they’ve done so much in the community — camps, clinics, promotional activities. To take this away so suddenly, it’s bothersome.”

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If it was a lack of fan interest or something else, it’s a sudden turn of events for the game-day experience. So fans who appreciated the entertainment of the Silver Dancers will find disappointment, but also see what this “family-friendly” hype team has in store, whenever the Spurs franchise rolls them out for community work and games this fall. It’s an interesting situation, though, that may not be over yet.