Yakama Shut Down

[Pounder]

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/3080

Anyone think Butte's going to stay out on an island? Or Great Falls will end up in Seattle instead of 6 feet under?

How brutal.

[tbayz1]

You beat me to it Pounder, I just saw it on OSC, I was shocked when I saw this.

Heres 2 other articles from Osc:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004340236_apbknyakamasunkings.html

http://www.kndo.com/Global/story.asp?S=8149836&nav=menu484_2_8


Its sad that the Tribe pulled the plug on the SunKings, they were an amazing franchise and a great team and really showed what CBA basketball is all about. Pretty unfortunate for the fans too, every time I got a chance to see some pictures, there was always a nice crowd on hand.

I was also looking foward to seeing more Yakama/Oklahoma battles next season on the webcast, this is a bummer :(

[JAKMAN]

I can't imagine Butte or Vancouver (if they even exist) will try to play now that Yakama is gone. That's a shame. You can't blame the Nation because they lost a lot of money on the team and apparently had no takers for it. It's just sad to see one of the bigger success stories in minor league basketball call it quits for good. I haven't felt this bummed since I read stories about how the ABA is still alive.

With the economy slowing down and prices going way up (including gas prices), don't be shocked to see this happening a lot more.

[psbf]

I was also surprised to hear about it, although not totally. I read where a former tribe member has hopes they will be back next season.

[Kev the Cav]

Pretty amazing that they could lead the league in attendance and lose that much money. Rent at the Sun Dome must be high.

It makes me wonder if any CBA team made a profit this year.

This is really sad. I was hoping the Cavalry and Sun Kings would be a big rivalry for years to come.

[psbf]

but I thought I read somewhere that the Sun Kings funds were misused.

[DazedAndAmused]

Pretty amazing that they could lead the league in attendance and lose that much money. Rent at the Sun Dome must be high.

It makes me wonder if any CBA team made a profit this year.

This is really sad. I was hoping the Cavalry and Sun Kings would be a big rivalry for years to come.

no minor league basketball team in any league has made a profit in several years.

[Chuck the Writer]

I'm absolutely stunned as much that the Sun Kings are shutting down as I am the complete bluntness of the Yakama Nation in ending the operation of the franchise. But then again, without the Nation's assistance the Sun Kings would have closed up shop three years ago. At least the franchise gave the city of Yakama three more seasons of quality basketball.

Yeah, without Yakama in the mix I don't see Butte surviving. Great Falls is essentially toast.

Now if everybody's got their fantasy merger plans in gear, you could still have a nice 20-team super-minor league by blending the remaining solid CBA, PBL and ABA NEC (Northeast Corridor) franchises together.

Thusly:

DIV 1 -

Halifax, Quebec, Montreal, Manchester, Vermont

DIV 2 -

Albany, Rochester, Reading, Pittsburgh, Columbus (possible expansion team)

DIV 3 -

East Kentucky, Maryland, Wilmington, Rockford, Quad Cities

DIV 4 -

RGV, Lawton, Texas Tycoons, Minot, Arkansas

Now this is just a fantasy alignment and should not be interpreted as official PBL-CBA merger canon.

But I'm sure that Joe Newman's already dusting off his "The People of (fill in the blank) deserve a pro basketball franchise and the ABA will have the Yakima (fill in the blank) ready to start up in December."

[DazedAndAmused]

I'm absolutely stunned as much that the Sun Kings are shutting down as I am the complete bluntness of the Yakama Nation in ending the operation of the franchise. But then again, without the Nation's assistance the Sun Kings would have closed up shop three years ago. At least the franchise gave the city of Yakama three more seasons of quality basketball.

Yeah, without Yakama in the mix I don't see Butte surviving. Great Falls is essentially toast.

Now if everybody's got their fantasy merger plans in gear, you could still have a nice 20-team super-minor league by blending the remaining solid CBA, PBL and ABA NEC (Northeast Corridor) franchises together.

Thusly:

DIV 1 -

Halifax, Quebec, Montreal, Manchester, Vermont

DIV 2 -

Albany, Rochester, Reading, Pittsburgh, Columbus (possible expansion team)

DIV 3 -

East Kentucky, Maryland, Wilmington, Rockford, Quad Cities

DIV 4 -

RGV, Lawton, Texas Tycoons, Minot, Arkansas

Now this is just a fantasy alignment and should not be interpreted as official PBL-CBA merger canon.

But I'm sure that Joe Newman's already dusting off his "The People of (fill in the blank) deserve a pro basketball franchise and the ABA will have the Yakima (fill in the blank) ready to start up in December."

...if something similar to your fantasy league doesn't happen next year, league leaders are not thinking clearly. This is a great opportunity. We'll see.

[psbf]

That looks like an interesting alignment. Chuck I notice that you are the only one who has not fitted EK and the X in the same Division.
If there is no merger, though, they will need to find a replacement for Yakama, which is a good reason why it happened so fast.

[CHris902]

I'm absolutely stunned as much that the Sun Kings are shutting down as I am the complete bluntness of the Yakama Nation in ending the operation of the franchise. But then again, without the Nation's assistance the Sun Kings would have closed up shop three years ago. At least the franchise gave the city of Yakama three more seasons of quality basketball.

Yeah, without Yakama in the mix I don't see Butte surviving. Great Falls is essentially toast.

Now if everybody's got their fantasy merger plans in gear, you could still have a nice 20-team super-minor league by blending the remaining solid CBA, PBL and ABA NEC (Northeast Corridor) franchises together.

Thusly:

DIV 1 -

Halifax, Quebec, Montreal, Manchester, Vermont

DIV 2 -

Albany, Rochester, Reading, Pittsburgh, Columbus (possible expansion team)

DIV 3 -

East Kentucky, Maryland, Wilmington, Rockford, Quad Cities

DIV 4 -

RGV, Lawton, Texas Tycoons, Minot, Arkansas

Now this is just a fantasy alignment and should not be interpreted as official PBL-CBA merger canon.

But I'm sure that Joe Newman's already dusting off his "The People of (fill in the blank) deserve a pro basketball franchise and the ABA will have the Yakima (fill in the blank) ready to start up in December."

I totally agree, except that Montreal aren't all that solid (super low attendance, zero media coverage, traveling with a skeleton team, etc.). I think part of the key to any such merger is to use the CBA name. In a lot of markets the name and history are really, really important.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Maybe it's just me, but I'm amazed the Yakama Sun Kings stuck around THIS long. Their financial problems were well documented. Crowd size meant nothing when 1) Many of the tickets were subsidized by the Yakama Nation, and 2) Crowd size was compared to the rest of the (dismally attended) CBA.

I don't recall reading about misuse of funds though. I only remember unwise use of funds.

[panchess]

..nobody is saying anybody stole money. Maybe the Yakama Nation couldn't operate a business well -- something that their other business dealings would seem to indicate to be the case.

[psbf]

You're right, Ken. I phrazed it wrong, but I knew their spending was wrong in some way from what I'd been reading.

[Pounder]

I thought the issue was the backhanded manner one or two of the tribal councilors caused the purchase of the team by the tribe. It's a situation where, I believe, the tribe would find any reason necessary to shut down the operation... as long as losses are minimized. Either an agreement with the league expiring or the lease with the Sun Dome ending MAY have triggered the timing of what may well have been inevitable.

[zeke41]

This is purely speculation, but...perhaps the reality of a merger and a certain increase in the traveling budget due to a lack of West Coast teams in the PBL and, thanks to Great Falls and an uncertain Butte of the CBA, helped the tribe make this decision.

I think one of the bigger issues of a merger (and of course not the only BIG issue) was the fact that Yakama was such a staple of the CBA over the past few years, and a merger with the PBL, which is predominantly on the East Coast and Midwest, would undoubtedly hurt this team the most.

Perhaps a discussion between the tribe and the CBA office helped in making this decision. We have already seen the number of scheduled games drop for next season according to several season ticket promotions.

It is sad, though. It certainly was a highlight to play Yakama last season. Who will become the next staple franchise?

[Patroons1]

If something similar to the fantasy league / merger does not happen, not only are the leaders not thinking clearly, I'll go one step further...the league (CBA) is toast :( . The current travel and business model can not be sustained and the loss of the Sunkings is sobering proof. If Sunkings can't find a way to make it with their attendance, who can?

The CBA glass half empty says....this is a major blow to the CBA. The Sunkings were the flagship. For all of us who love the CBA and minor league Bball, this is very sad and scary news about the future. The merger and regionalization with a majority of at least "somewhat" stable owners and teams is the ONLY hope.

The CBA glass half full says.....the PBL/CBA merger is close to done or done, Great Falls and Butte are not in the mix as we would guess, Yakama sees the writing on the table (with the closest CBA/PBL team 1/2 a country away at best) and reluctantly shuts down as the "odd man" out of the new mix.

[psbf]

true, Zeke, but I dout it based on what I'd been reading in the online version of the Yakama Herald. I think it is mainly the financial problems for the team and the unauthorized purchase of the team by the since ousted tribe members. The ones I feel sorry for are the diehard supporters who won't get to see their team anymore.
I admit, though, that the loss of the Sun Kings brings more of a reality to the talks of a merger with the PBL now. I would think that with the possibility of playing Buffalo and Rochester, it may actually help the X attendence. We were doing well when we were playing more local teams in the ABA.

[Pounder]

true, Zeke, but I dout it based on what I'd been reading in the online version of the Yakama Herald. I think it is mainly the financial problems for the team and the unauthorized purchase of the team by the since ousted tribe members. The ones I feel sorry for are the diehard supporters who won't get to see their team anymore.
I admit, though, that the loss of the Sun Kings brings more of a reality to the talks of a merger with the PBL now. I would think that with the possibility of playing Buffalo and Rochester, it may actually help the X attendence. We were doing well when we were playing more local teams in the ABA.

The media rarely report what's behind the scenes. If it does get reported, it usually comes out later in some quasi-investigative piece, provided someone is willing to dig.

There's that "believe half of what you see and none of what you hear" mantra, after all.

[panchess]

The story here is clear enough. Nation buys team, faction doesn't like you, faction wins tribal election, faction shuts down team.

Of course, their other money woes don't help, but that's it in a nutshell.

The folding of the SunKings (though there does seem to be some local interest in their revival) does make a merger between the PBL and the CBA a lot easier. The outliers in the CBA now are Oklahoma and RGV in the south (and the PBL did have Arkansas and Dallas franchises), and Minot in the north (though they are quite a bit closer to the PBL's Midwest cluster than their division mates in the CBA this year).

For Albany, Pittsburgh and East Kentucky, they get more teams closer to them.

[Patroons1]

Panchess, I think you are right...this paves the way for a merger which has either already happened and they are working out the detail (in which case, tribal like it or not, lose money or not, Yakama is out). If it has yet to happen, Sunking departure now makes it a lot simpler for a merge that MUST happen for survival or I fear that we are not going to have much to talk about next year...that simple.

[Chuck the Writer]

Even if a merger was in the works, there are a lot of hurdles that must be spanned.

1. Quarter-points or no quarter-points?
2. 25ft NBA-style 3-point line or 21.5ft international 3-point line?
3. Wilson basketball or "The Rock"?
4. USABasketball association or no?
5. 48-game schedule, 20-game schedule or something in between?
6. Two-referee system or three-referee system?
7. Single-elimination knockout playoff tournaments or "series" playoffs?
8. 10-man rosters or 12-man rosters?
9. Regulation-size courts all around or waivers for teams who don't have access to buildings with regulation-size courts?
10. Do teams keep their core players or is there a "merger draft" set up?
11. Are overtures made to the ABA Northeast Corridor to bring them in?
12. Are overtures made to the four USBL successful franchises (Kansas, Dodge City, Enid OK and Brooklyn) to bring them in?

Start with those questions. There's really no right or wrong answer on any of them, and whatever answer one picks is most likely based on whether you're a CBA fan, a PBL fan, or a fan of one league who thinks the other league's way of doing things is superior.

[DazedAndAmused]

ok...i'll bite, my answers below:

1. Quarter-points or no quarter-points? yes
2. 25ft NBA-style 3-point line or 21.5ft international 3-point line? international
3. Wilson basketball or "The Rock"? rock
4. USABasketball association or no? yes
5. 48-game schedule, 20-game schedule or something in between? in between, but no more than 32
6. Two-referee system or three-referee system? no opinion
7. Single-elimination knockout playoff tournaments or "series" playoffs? single
8. 10-man rosters or 12-man rosters? 10 man
9. Regulation-size courts all around or waivers for teams who don't have access to buildings with regulation-size courts? 2 yr waiver for approved teams
10. Do teams keep their core players or is there a "merger draft" set up? Each team can declare 5 "franchise" players, remainder eligible for draft
11. Are overtures made to the ABA Northeast Corridor to bring them in? yes
12. Are overtures made to the four USBL successful franchises (Kansas, Dodge City, Enid OK and Brooklyn) to bring them in? no

Lastly, keep the CBA name and website, but PBL management style.

[a1sports]

LOL.... those questions will not provide you any revenue.
Lets be realistic. the only question that matters is:

1. Does the owner(s) have the money to complete a season.

there are no more questions.

[psbf]

In case you forgot, a1, we're talking about the merging of leagues, not the ABA.

[utahstarsticketholder]

I think it is true for all teams/leagues looking for a merger to save minor league basketball. Hope it happens for the players, coaches and fans. jack

[wellington]

Its tough to see Yakama leave, but it really opens the door for another team to become the marque franchise -- Minot, EK, Oklahoma... winning championships is a great way to build a fanbase.

[Alumni96]

LOL.... those questions will not provide you any revenue.
Lets be realistic. the only question that matters is:

1. Does the owner(s) have the money to complete a season.

there are no more questions.

For the first time in a while I agree with you. The ownership groups financing and commitment are the most important question. The rest are just details.

[psbf]

Details are important too, especially when it comes to the PBL and CBA merging(if it happens).

[Alumni96]

Details are important too, especially when it comes to the PBL and CBA merging(if it happens).

The details can be resolved after a strong foundation of teams can be found. Its about priorities.

[psbf]

Let's make sure, first. I'm hearing nothing solid at the moment. It can go either way.

[wellington]

What if Tuckman decides to relocate the Explorers to Yakima?

[psbf]

I could be wrong but I highly doubt that will happen.

[panchess]

..it would be the first smart thing he has done since joining the league. Will never happen...