ABA Seeks to Expand Pacific Northwest

[panchess]

Great headline, worthy of Embry. I would personally like about 5,000 more square miles off the coast of Oregon.

[LightningMan]

I would love to be a fly on the wall and find out how Joe sells these people again and again and again.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3764575
ABA Seeks to Expand the Pacific Northwest
January 15, 2009 - American Basketball Association (ABA)

Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) is interested in expanding into the Pacific Northwest for the 2009-2010 season. "Travel is always a major consideration. We have two great teams set to begin play in 2009 in the state of Washington but we feel that we need at least two more teams to make it feasible and to fit within the ABA travel guidelines," stated ABA CEO Joe Newman.
"Teams from Vancouver BC, Washington, Oregon and Idaho would certainly help the situation. We have set up a special program for the Pacific Northwest that will make it easier and more affordable to own a team there than any other professional sports opportunity. We owe it to our two teams there to do everything possible to maximize their potential in the ABA."

Usually, Joe claims that there is interest, regardless of the geographic area being discussed. Apparently that well has run dry.

Also nice that he calls out his preferred teams - what about the second team that was going to be in Alaska next season? Don't they count?

"We have set up a special program for the Pacific Northwest that will make it easier and more affordable to own a team there than any other professional sports opportunity" - meaning, no money down. Of course, if you are looking to join this wreck, but based in another part of the country, shouldn't you demand the same treatment.

We owe it to our two teams there to do everything possible to maximize their potential in the ABA - like he has ever given that a consideration for any other team that has been part of this mess in the past.

Could it be that this is one of the first signs from Joe that his empire may be in trouble? He NEVER admits to issues or problems, other than to say they have been 'resolved' somehow. But now he seems to be admitting that there may be trouble on the horizon.

We can only hope...

[Pounder]

Now don't be trying to ruin a perfectly good coastline, panchess. You, too, Joe.

If Joe wants more Northwest presence, I'll promise to alert the unions. They still have power here. We'll take care of this mess.

[Sam Hill]

"ABA Seeks to Expand Pacific Northwest"

followed by

Joe Newman Takes Credit for Louisiana Purchase.
"This territory fits nicely between the original 13 colonies and the western frontier and will really help our divisions. Thomas Jefferson has put together a great organization and we think he's going to be a great owner. We expect terrific things on and off the court."

[Paul S]

What the heck makes Joe think underfinanced dreamers in Vancouver BC, Washington, Oregon and Idaho are going to be any different than underfinanced dreamers in Texas, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio?

The underfinanced owner in Vancouver has about as much chance to get to Alaska as the underfinanced owner in California. The man has simply walked upstairs from the basement office into the living room and asked Connie where the world atlas is, she's handed it to him and he's turned the page to Pacific Northwest and found the largest city and the 3 northern and western most states, then back down to ABA World Headquarters in the basement and he's typed up this absurd "release". I must say I do wonder what the special incentive is?

BTW- Trey's Alaska Dream (very appropriate name too) are back on the ABA website as a 2010 expansion team..............."we won't let you down" indeed!!!

[SaveourSonics]

Submitted Twice sorry

[SaveourSonics]

I am so surprised that that Explosion Basketball http://www.explosionbasketball.net is not only still going but has become a huge presence in the Northwest being on Comcast Cable and major advertising that they do.

They draw a good 800 per game (not the 1000 they say in the press) they have a great location now in Monroe and they have been a key team that helped grab the Slam to join the IBL.

It seems that if the ABA is serious then they need to get a team in Tacoma and pick up Bellingham and Monroe and then they are solid. I like the ABA as this has a much larger name then the IBL and nice to see Basketball in the Winter not spring.

I think if the ABA is serious they should be talking with Bellingham again as this would be the teams to have join the ABA.:rolleyes:

[Paul S]

Ask BESL what happened when the ABA stumbled out of Bellingham. Another fine city in another fine ABA mess.

[Pounder]

I think if the ABA is serious they should be talking with Bellingham again as this would be the teams to have join the ABA.:rolleyes:

The ABA is not serious. Not this incarnation.

[besl]

It seems that if the ABA is serious then they need to get a team in Tacoma and pick up Bellingham and Monroe and then they are solid. I like the ABA as this has a much larger name then the IBL and nice to see Basketball in the Winter not spring.

Minor league basketball is a tough sell in Washington, and particularly so in the winter. Folks direct the majority of their attention to college ball, and in the smaller communities high school ball is king. In this state, if a newspaper has to choose between covering a high school game or a minor league game, they'll choose the high school game every time.

I think it might also have something to do with the weather as to why spring hoops works better than winter here. During most of the IBL season, the weather in the Northwest still isn't that great so folks don't want to do stuff outside, and without college or high school games to go to, the basketball-minded fan is more likely to attend an IBL game.

I think if the ABA is serious they should be talking with Bellingham again as this would be the teams to have join the ABA.

I think it is safe to say that the Bellingham Slam will NEVER re-join the ABA. Why would they?