Hello from the Nebraska Cranes!

[Wise Guy]

Hello everyone--I'm from the Kearney NE area home of the new Cranes team. This is my first visit to the board. I'm sure that if this is like the indoor football message boards, a new guy gets on and asks the same old questions. :D
The new owners and management of the Cranes has yet to fill the fans from the area in on what players are payed per game or if they are payed. Are there any strange rule changes or playoff formats that happen in this league? How many teams are actually in this league, etc? Any info will be appreciated!
Thanks

[Tha Man*]

I suggest visiing www.usbl.com for some of your answers. Playoffs are kind of like the the Final Four Brackets and they play all the Playoff games in one city over 2 to 3 days.

[Wise Guy]

I can't find anything on the USBL site that shows the pay structure, if any, or any other type of rules. Maybe they don't disclose what players can recieve for wages. Is everyone paid the same or does it vary from player to player?

[Tha Man*]

Varies from player and team to team what players get.

[hoop1]

The USBL operates with a $48,000 salary cap. Pay varies from player to player. Let me point out though that it is not a get rich league. The USBL is called the "League of Opportunity" beause its provides a stage for players to showcase their talents.

Now to the salary question: It is not uncommon for rookies to make $300 per week. Veteran players will make anywhere from 300-500 per week, although a talented player may make a little more.

Most teams provide for player housing-no cost to the player
Several of the teams provide most meals for the players-no cost to the players. And most of the teams will provide the player with transportation to and fom the teams hometown.

I hope that helps.

[SK Fan]

Hello everyone--I'm from the Kearney NE area home of the new Cranes team. This is my first visit to the board. I'm sure that if this is like the indoor football message boards, a new guy gets on and asks the same old questions. :D
The new owners and management of the Cranes has yet to fill the fans from the area in on what players are payed per game or if they are payed. Are there any strange rule changes or playoff formats that happen in this league? How many teams are actually in this league, etc? Any info will be appreciated!
Thanks

Be ready for anything in this league. League management is questionable at best. I've watched and played basketball for 40 years and I saw things in this league that I have never seen before. There is a fan forum that you can visit by going to the Dodge City Legend website. http://www.legendhoops.com/forum/

[Houston Caldwell]

The $48,000 salary cap is much less than the ABA $120,000 (if the ABA cap get's PAID, which is a big IF, but it was in Nashville and Little Rock), and the USBL season is not much shorter (30 scheduled against 36). I think the USBL's high fees figure in this formula, to player detriment.
The ABA has good ideas in the promotion of teams with locally-based talent and a high possession style, as the NBA/NCAA gradually go to lower possessions in a game. I think it is a GOOD thing for minor league basketball, which to some degree struggles everywhere (even in the CBA and NBDL), to be DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVAILING NORM.
The ABA has forgotten one fundamental thing; your style is zilch without REAL OWNERSHIP GROUPS, properly funded and community-rooted. Guys like Larry Crain and Terry Emmert are gone, leaving the Ruby Richmans and James Bynum's of the world in their stead. Joe didn't have a bad vision ON the court, but he is not the man to execute this. And everyone sees this but Joe.

[wazzie]

All you have to know is that the Dodge City Legend, Penn. Valleydawgs, and Brooklyn Kings are always very good. The others good but not at that level.

[Wise Guy]

Thanks for the replies everyone! Hopefully the basketball here goes over well. We had a good indoor football team but the ownership is what killed it. The "new" owner of the arena also owns the Cranes and has the bucks to make things happen. As long as he gets the right management in place, the team should be very stable. I can't wait until we get some players signed and it starts evolving more. Hope everything works out for the team that you support! :D

[HAC]

All you have to know is that the Dodge City Legend, Penn. Valleydawgs, and Brooklyn Kings are always very good. The others good but not at that level.

C'mon Wazzie, don't forget the Cagerz. :D

At worst, they've been better over the years than Brooklyn. :wink:

[Tha Man*]

Wise Guy -

Just because he has the money doesn't mean the team is going to be stable. For the Cranes to be stable they are going to need 1) Some kind of fan base, 2) Sponsors, 3) A competent front office, 4) A League that will support the team in its fledging year, and most of all 5) Finish the season with at least a .500 mark. If they have a majority of those then things will be stable.

[wazzie]

HAC,

I apologize I forgot about the Cagerz. They have been pretty good over the years. Here is my pre-season prediction of the USBL

MIDWEST:

Dodge City
Kansas
Oklahoma
Kearney

EAST:
Pennsylvania
Westchester
Brooklyn
New Jersey

P.S. Where is the USBL Festival this year?

[hoop1]

I have heard that the Cranes are interested in hosting it. As stated above, they have the arena, the hotel, and the support to make it a good one.

[wazzie]

I hope is is in the Miswest because they do a great job out here and more people are interested in the USBL. So if Kearney is the host, I would be perfectly fine with that.

[HAC]

I've also heard that the league would like the tourney in the Midwest, even possibly back in Salina.

But, I don't think the Cagerz are banging down the door to host the tournament. They've hosted it three, maybe four, times and it's no money maker.

If Nebraska can put together some wins AT HOME that would make it a possibility, IMO. But a string of losses at home can really hurt attendance for a first-year franchise, especially one that seems to be behind in getting things organized.

I'm kind of surprised Nebraska ended up joing after Oklahoma's ex-owner James Bryant, a good friend of Wiens, is no longer the owner in Oklahoma. He's the one who got Wiends interested in owning a USBL team.

[wazzie]

I am a huge DC Legend fan and when they hosted in 2003, Dodge City did very well and I think made some money with that tournament. The only problem, some say big problem, is that it is in SW Kansas (my former home for my first 20 years of my life) and nobody likes to go there. Bur hopefully someone in the Midwest will host it. Wait, how about Brooklyn.....hahahahahahahahaha!!!

[skippy]

Do you think the USBL could/would hold their tournament out of a current market?
Maybe a small town that is thinking of having a USBL franchise or something?

I dunno, just something I thought of...

[wazzie]

You know, I have thought about that but the only thing is who knows how many will show up. I think it would be great if they knew there would be a great crowd that went. I was thinking along the lines of say Rolla, MO or some small town on the east coast. I don't mean Rolla, MO is small but something along that line where basketball is big and could thrive there.

[Tha Man*]

If they ran the USBL Tournament outside a USBL city who will run it personell wise? Also I thought the team that hosted the tournament payed to host the event but got to keep a majority of the money made during the event? Just questions...

[wazzie]

Well, I think since there were 8 teams why not split the cost 8 ways. and split the revenue the same way. Just another thought.

[HAC]

A neutral site would never work. Nobody would show. Crowds aren't anything special to begin with.

I've always wondered why they don't just scrap the tournament and go with regular season champions. Would anybody REALLY miss it? If it's not in Dodge, Enid or Oklahoma, I'm not going.

The tourney is a costly endeavor and the one and done format is a killer if the host team falls out early.

[HAC]

Well, I think since there were 8 teams why not split the cost 8 ways. and split the revenue the same way. Just another thought.

Collecting that money would be a pain. By the time the tourney rolls around a team or two have decided they're not coming back so they're not going to kick in squat.

And there really isn't any revenue to be spread around. And, if I'm the host team and do all the work, I probably don't want to share any revenue that might come in.

[hoop1]

Actually the USBL post season tourney could be a profitable venture, especially if done in the correct venue. The Nebraska Crane situation would be a good one, IF they get off to a good start and get the fans behind the team. The reasons for their venue are:

1. Team owner owns the facility. Unlike other venues in the league, the cost of hosting would be greatly reduced due to the dual ownership role.
2. All concession revenue is controlled by the venue (i.e. team).
3. Parking fee is also controlled by the team.
4. Host motel/hotel is owned by the team--should be able to provide great rates to visiting teams.
5. Potential local media coverage: TV, Radio, Newspapers. Unlike Salina which has done a tremendous job each time it has hosted the event, Kearney/Grand Island/Hastings has broadcast media right there.

Now that we have addressed why Kearney would be a good location, DO THEY WANT IT? A lot to put on a first year team.

Selling the Tourney--During the 2000 tourney there was a dunk contest, 3 pt. shooting contest, and all-star game. Players from all teams were supposed to be made available, but when push came to shove it didn't happen. The All-Star game was entertaining and could have been a better draw if all selected players played and the game was held the night before the tourney begins. It could help kick start the event.

[TEN]

The 2003 tournament in Dodge did make money...the league got a pretty good check after expenses...but don't ask the "accountant," he would probably tell you it didn't...

[TEN]

The 2003 tournament in Dodge did make money...the league got a pretty good check after expenses...but don't ask the "accountant," he would probably tell you it didn't...

[Sam Hill]

Good luck, Cranes!

If you can throw together an organization in 6 weeks and get 1,000+ people for your opener, most of the ABA teams could learn something from you. Most of them couldn't get 1,000 people to a game if you gave them 6 months to ramp up.