NEPA Breakers join USBL!

[Minor League Man]

It says so on their website (but not on the ABA or USBL websites).

[nksports]

How close are they to the Valley Dawgs (and are the Valley Dawgs still alive)?

[toad455]

The USBL stated that all 8 teams from the 2005 season will return. Plus there's a possibility that the league may reach 12 teams. Brevard is expected to return, the old Cedar Rapids francises was sold and a new team is expect to resurface from it, plus the Lincoln Thunder may also be joining. That's 12 teams right there.

EAST
Brooklyn
Westchester
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
NE Pennsylvania
Brevard

MIDWEST
Kansas
Dodge City
OKlahoma
Nebraska
Lincoln(?)
expansion team

[Tha Man]

To my knowledge Cedar Rapids was never sold. They wont be back. If Lincoln's owners were smart they would pack it in before they completely destroy a market for any future teams.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Agreed. Lincoln should just "go away".

As a matter of fact, I don't see ANY minor league hoops taking-off until ALL of the teams are playing in arenas like Qwest Arena (where the Idaho Stampede play). That place is just the right size, but more important, has the fan amenities to attract corporate support.

[nksports]

Word is (from the Salina Journal) Kansas will fold if new buyers aren't found. There were some rumors of them moving to Wichita with new ownership, but nothing official has been announced.

[HAC]

There is a press conference at 3 today to announce a new majority owner for the Cagerz.

I'm happy but stunned that they are returning.

Last season was disappointing in attendance and revenue and it's hard to imagine what could happen that would turn things around. The numbers have been fairly stagnant for the past few seasons.

I cannot see where announcing a return this close to the new season will be beneficial. They have their work cut out for them.

-------------------------------------------------------
Will Cagerz be back?
Team officials may announce possible buyer on Thursday

By BOB DAVIDSON
Salina Journal

Are the Kansas Cagerz dead or alive? Are they staying or going?

Inquiring and hopeful fans want to know, but team officials aren’t officially saying. At least not yet.

Carroll Long, general manager and part owner of Salina’s minor league professional basketball team, said Tuesday franchise officials are in negotiations with a potential buyer, but he would not identify the person.

“It looks highly possible this transaction will happen,” Long said Tuesday night. “We will announce any decision we might have on Thursday.”

Speculation has focused on Salina businessman Gordon Kasparson, an avid and longtime Cagerz supporter and season ticket holder. Kasparson declined comment on any aspect of the matter when called Tuesday night.

Team officials said in September the franchise was idle, that the six-member ownership group was looking to sell the team, and they had informed the United States Basketball League they were not planning on participating in the 2006 season.

Long cited declining attendance the last two seasons and the loss of “around $20,000” last season as primary reasons.

Attendance slumped by 4,500 in 2005 despite the fact the Cagerz finished with a 19-14 record and advanced to the championship game of the USBL postseason tournament, which was played at the Bicentennial Center. The Cagerz are 29-1 in games played at the Bicentennial Center the last two years.

Long also said season ticket sales were down $30,000 last year.

The Cagerz played in the USBL’s Midwest Division last season, along with the Dodge City Legend, Oklahoma Storm and Nebraska Cranes. All three of those franchises are expected to return in 2006.

The Cagerz’ current ownership group of Francis Flax, Roy Lawrence, Long, Mike McMahon, Todd Welsh and Jeff Wells has owned the team for five years. They purchased the franchise from James Williamson, a California businessman who moved the team to Salina from Columbus, Ohio, in 1999.

[HAC]

It says so on their website (but not on the ABA or USBL websites).


Looks like they're in. It's on the USBL web site.

Also heard that St. Louis is back.

[minorleagueball]

To my knowledge Cedar Rapids was never sold. They wont be back. If Lincoln's owners were smart they would pack it in before they completely destroy a market for any future teams.

Lincoln's made some pretty bad league choices. Granted its not all their fault but given their track history how do they expect any fan or potential sponsor to jump on the bandwagon of a two-time loser?

[HAC]

Well, eight teams in two divisions ... and two states have two teams.

Only six states are represented in the United States Basketball League.

MIDWEST
Kansas Cagerz
Dodge City (KS) Legend
Nebraska Cranes
Oklahoma Storm

EAST
Brooklyn (NY) Kings
Long Island (NY) Surf??
Northeast (PA) Breakers
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs

[toad455]

I think that if the Breakers didn't join & Kansas didn't get new ownership, the USBL would have folded. Long Island is owned by the USBL & the Valleydawgs attendance keeps dropping. Brevard, Adirondack & St. Louis were all supposed to rejoin & Cedar Rapids was to have new wonerhsip but in a different city. They could have had as many as 13 teams. If they only had 5 teams to start the season, I think the USBL would have folded up shop. They got lucky this season.

[vdawgs1212]

The ValleyDawgs are still owned by the USBL. There has been absolutely no promotion in the lehigh valley that the team is returning. The Lehigh Valley has a new indoor football league that starts at the exact same time as the USBL and it is being promoted heavily. Also, a professional softball team is starting sometime in the summer.

That means, no one will know of the ValleyDawgs even having a season and the market will be saturated.

Even if they find a new owner, expect the ValleyDawgs to have little to no attendance again this year.

The best idea is to just fold the team instead of running it like a joke like last year when they played at Dieruff high school in front of like 15 fans a game.

[toad455]

Looks like the USBL is barely alive. Maybe some of the teams(i.e. Oklahoma, Dodge City) should apply to the D-League. They'd be welcome there.

[BreakersFan]

Since the ABA has become a complete farce, maybe the USBL can poach a few of the successful teams from the ABA (like Rochester and Buffalo).

I for one hope the USBL is here for a long time to come.

[bdaly]

Since the ABA has become a complete farce, maybe the USBL can poach a few of the successful teams from the ABA (like Rochester and Buffalo).

Buffalo confirmed interest in the CBA. Rochester has confirmed they've been contacted by the CBA, but provided "no comment" on any further discussions. I'm sure the CBA likes that Rochester, Buffalo, and Albany proximity would help reduce travel costs. So, if the pieces fall into place, I wouldn't be surprised to see both teams jump.

[BreakersFan]

Buffalo confirmed interest in the CBA. Rochester has confirmed they've been contacted by the CBA, but provided "no comment" on any further discussions. I'm sure the CBA likes that Rochester, Buffalo, and Albany proximity would help reduce travel costs. So, if the pieces fall into place, I wouldn't be surprised to see both teams jump.

I hope for Albany's sake that they do go to the CBA. Although I would love to see the USBL get 4-6 stable matkets in the northeast and 4-6 in the midwest. It would seem that some ABA markets could make the jump - 15 quality USBL home games in the spring is better than who knows how many inferior home games in the winter.

The ABA needs to go away - it is ruining markets for minor basketball from coast to coast.

[BreakersFan]

I think that if the Breakers didn't join & Kansas didn't get new ownership, the USBL would have folded. Long Island is owned by the USBL & the Valleydawgs attendance keeps dropping. Brevard, Adirondack & St. Louis were all supposed to rejoin & Cedar Rapids was to have new wonerhsip but in a different city. They could have had as many as 13 teams. If they only had 5 teams to start the season, I think the USBL would have folded up shop. They got lucky this season.

Maybe you are right - who knows? It seems that of the 8 current teams, many are shaky and I don't know what happened in Adirondack and St. Louis. As for Brevard, it seems like they would need at least one other team in Florida for it to be at all possible.

Hopefully, the Breakers will do well and that will inspire some other ABA markets to make the move to the USBL for 2007. Maybe even some of the successful IBL markets could consider moving up to the USBL.

[panchess]

Any thoughts on Gerry McNamara playing in the USBL this summer?

[bdaly]

I hope for Albany's sake that they do go to the CBA. Although I would love to see the USBL get 4-6 stable matkets in the northeast and 4-6 in the midwest. It would seem that some ABA markets could make the jump - 15 quality USBL home games in the spring is better than who knows how many inferior home games in the winter.

The ABA needs to go away - it is ruining markets for minor basketball from coast to coast.
All of the printed coverage has led one to believe that any move for Rochester will be to the CBA or NBDL. For that matter, Buffalo claimed the same thing, although we'll see what happens there. In the case of Rochester, I don't think moving to the spring would be a wise idea. The market gets pretty saturated with the NLL and AHL wrapping up and the A-League, MLL, and AAA teams beginning. I think our AFL2 team found that out the hard way.

I've said it before, I think the ABA concept is decent. A lot of teams making pro regional ball possible. Travel is killing these other leagues. However, the league clearly didn't enforce its own standards. That made things in the west and south pretty questionable. However -- for the most part -- the basketball we saw was good. Buffalo was decent, as was Montreal, while Long Island, Harlem, and Newark had fairly good clubs. Maryland was quite strong.

With that said, based on the e-mails I've seen posted from the ABA's leadership, it seems questionable if the league will ever do what it needs to do to accomplish what it set out to do. Consequently, I suspect you'll see the cream of the crop continue to flee. If the ABA could get its act together, I wouldn't mind Rochester remaining. However, I'm not holding my breath, and I don't think Rochester can risk any of the issues seen in the south and west impacting them.

So, for now, I'll enjoy the ABA 'Great Eight' that's being held here. There are eight solid teams remaining, so it should be a good weekend. I suspect we'll hear more on any potential moves soon after the weekend wraps up, and the picture will become clearer.