Looking for advise on forming a minor league basketball team

[TEN]

Your substantial investment better be at least $300,000 a year or you are going to be blown out of the water if you want to do it right.

But, right now, outside of the D-League....There is NO viable option....

[Sam Hill]

Why do people do this?

I know, you want to own a team, but why do people, in the face of overwhelming evidence that you can't do it on the cheap, continue to expect that they can do this and it will be anything but setting fire to money in the middle of the street?

[JeffKuntz]

Originally Posted by Sam Hill

Why do people do this?

I know, you want to own a team, but why do people, in the face of overwhelming evidence that you can't do it on the cheap, continue to expect that they can do this and it will be anything but setting fire to money in the middle of the street?

Because contrary to what people believe - you can run a low level basketball or indoor football team - at least the part where you function as a sports team - for less than $50k. So it seems easy.

Half the teams operate on less than half that. Then half fold.

Hope I'm not pissing anyone in Dayton off, but the PBL Air Strikers could rent Trent Arena (perfect PBL venue) for $1,500/game while the CIFL Silverbacks got Hara Arena (eh, needs work) for $2,500/game. Player payroll was, ah ... about as low as you can get.. PBL league dues were waived this past year and the CIFL's, ah .. weren't much higher.

As I've said before, but as the OP probably never saw me say, teams fail because they plan for basketball operations and nothing else..

"I have a venue, I have a league, I have a coach, and players are calling ME!" I'm all set!"

But you have to budget for a front office and most importantly have someone who has sales skills..

But I'll make it easy.. here's a simple test for future all team owners considering forming a team: If you think spending $3,000-$5,000 on a mascot is a ridiculous idea then don't form a team.. If you think a mascot can wait until the second season, then YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO BE FORMING A TEAM.

Speaking for myself, I wanted to operate a team as a marketing platform for my other businesses and was going to divert from my marketing budget for it.. selfish, sure.. but like the OP I've wanted to do it for as long as I can remember..

[Mr. New Era Basketball]

I have a question I read alot of post on here because I am a basketball fanatic and I think the post in OSC is funny and me and dad like to read them but I have a serious question. I know we have a lot of senior members and junior members in the group so everyone opinion is welcomed. I see alot of people talk bad about leagues it seems like no league gets a good review in this form. I personally have attended PBL,IBA,IBL,ABA,UBA,UBL and looking forward to watching a ABL game this season. There are good teams and bad teams good organizations and bad ones. I wish all the good teams will come together and make a super AA league under the D league but that will never happen to many ego's involved everyone wants to be a chief not enough Indians. So I would like to know what does a league need or have to do to satisfy you men and women so they can get a good review. I know the usual play all games,not have teams fold, have a operating budget but what else??

[LightningMan]

Really New Era, what you list, along with keeping stats and existing without wholesale changes for several years, is what is needed.

Right now the NBLoC has an excellent chance of finally passing muster. I believe the TRBL performed to standard. And the FBA is trying as well. Let those get another year or two under the belt and I think people will respect them more.

As far as the PBL goes, it has its own history to overcome. And the Joe Newman ABA is a lost cause.

[Mr. New Era Basketball]

@ Lighting Man thanks for your opinion I agree the Nbl Canada did a great job this season I hope to go see a game in person but I did watch them on internet.

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by Mr. New Era Basketball

I personally have attended PBL,IBA,IBL,ABA,UBA,UBL and looking forward to watching a ABL game this season.....

If true.....that's incredible. As far as fans go(not counting players, refs, coaches) I would imagine more men have walked on the moon than seen that many different minor league games.

Of course more men have walked in the moon than paid attendance at some ABA games

[JeffKuntz]

Originally Posted by Mr. New Era Basketball

I have a question I read alot of post on here because I am a basketball fanatic and I think the post in OSC is funny and me and dad like to read them but I have a serious question. I know we have a lot of senior members and junior members in the group so everyone opinion is welcomed. I see alot of people talk bad about leagues it seems like no league gets a good review in this form. I personally have attended PBL,IBA,IBL,ABA,UBA,UBL and looking forward to watching a ABL game this season. There are good teams and bad teams good organizations and bad ones. I wish all the good teams will come together and make a super AA league under the D league but that will never happen to many ego's involved everyone wants to be a chief not enough Indians. So I would like to know what does a league need or have to do to satisfy you men and women so they can get a good review. I know the usual play all games,not have teams fold, have a operating budget but what else??

Well I mean obviously a lot of team and league executives read OSC..

And some of them even try to post on here pretending they're not part of an organization.. hard to believe, isn't it?

[Mr. New Era Basketball]

@ Paul thanks for your response I didnt know it was that uncommon for people to watch different leagues games. I am new to the forum my friend told me about osc so I just read the post but to clear some things up since my dad retired and my sister in law works for southwest airlines we like to travel and some times we check out games in the area. We also watch mlb, nfl and minor league baseball and football but I was posting on basketball in the forum. It is more like a hobby and my dad thinks minor league sports guys show more love for the game so he follows it but to answer your comment games we watched just this season.

1. PBL Championship- Central Illinois Drive vs Razorsharks in Illnois both games
2. PBL- Lake Michigan Admirals vs Sauk Valley ( was there for my aunts bday)
3. IBA- IBA Playoffs in Gary Indiana Fri Sat and Sun Championship
4. IBL- Vancouver Volcanoes Ring Ceremony game( was there for my cousins graduation at uw)
5. ABA- Been to alot but mostly North Dallas Vandals Games they play in my area and my cousin play for the team.
6. ABA- Jacksonville Giants vs South Carolina Warriors (in Jacksonvile nice facility had about 4,000 people)
7. ABA- Final Four in Saint Petersburg ( waste of time but my cousin was playing)
8. UBA- Cleveland havok vs Austin Knights
9. UBA-Morrow Disciples vs Tennessee Dragons in ATL ( no fans)
10. UbL Championship in Dallas - Texas Wranglers vs Oklahoma Impact ( Great game 50 fans)

So Paul I have been to these games this year my goal for next year is to go see some more games and hopefully catch a ABL game and NBL Canada game one of my friends is trying out for canada aug 27th so I hope he makes it but I will be at the tryouts. The most I paid for a ticket was 10.00 in the pbl most other times we paid 5.00 some games like the UBA game in Texas was free. Competition wise I think the PBL was the best 2nd. IBA 3rd IBL 4th. ABA. 5th. UBA 6. UBL.

PBL had biggest fan base
UBA had worst

[Mr. New Era Basketball]

@ Jeff Kuntz
Thank you for your reply to answer your question Im new to this group and when you say they post on here without reveiling who they are I am not familiar but is it illegal to be a executive and post on a blog if so I understand and if not why dont they just say their with a league? Like I said in my previous post I have been to alot of minor league games and I assume it must not be that much to own a team because alot of people own them I visit usbasket.com and I see 18 leagues here with at least 10 teams a piece so there are 180 plus teams in the US. I wish their could be one league that comes out and can take all the good teams and make one league like a official AA. I would support that 100%. When I go to games with my dad we just observe, some teams nice uniforms some not, some concesions stands some dont, some with good fan base some with none. Game day operations sometimes sometimes not. Talent is there I think front office things lack. These a couple of teams I wish was in one league
1. ABA- Jacksonville Giants,Colorado Kings, Bring Back SETX MAverics, LA Slam, San Diego Soul, Alaska Quake, Arizona Scorpions. North Dallas Vandals
2. UBA- Morrow Disciples, Southern Generals,
3. IBL- Vancouver Volcanoes,Bellingham Slam, Edmonton Energy,Portland Chinooks,
4. IBA- La Lighting, Kankakee County Soldiers,Gary Splash, Albany Legends
5. UBL- Texas Wranglers, Oklahoma Impact
6. ACPBL- Hartford Lighting, Beltway bombers
7. PBL- Rochester Razorsharks, Illiniois Drive, Sauk Valley, Lake Michigan
8. TRBL- Havent seen any teams or games yet but I think they should have a couple of good franchises

Thats a good 25 team league with teams withing the same region as other teams except alaska and that is the top teams I have seen and you put these teams in the same room and iron out details that would really put minor league hoops on the map. I think the talent level is diluted because so many leagues. That is my dream Jeff I know it wont happen i am not affiliated with any leagues I just love basketball and I wish we could have one recognized AA league here like other countries have. Hope this clears up my stance