UBL Alive--United Basketball League

[Dan K]

The UBL (Universal) may be in neutral, but the UBL (United) is alive and plans to begin play in 2008 with teams in Texas and southern Missouri announced for now--www.ublhoops.com. I think this effort started as the Regional Basketball League.

[Strong Island Sound]

Keep checking the UBL site in the future. This league is going in the right direction and will have updates and information up on the home page and will start off on the right foot. Although their inaugural season does not begin for approx. 11 months, there is plenty of work to do to in the meantime and keep the fans abreast with news concerning team tryouts, rosters, exhibition games, etc.

The important point to remember is that their schedule will be played during the spring. That market is ripe currently with the issues concerning the USBL. The IBL seems to have their act in order, but there is plenty of room for another league to capitalize on the regular basketball offseason.

Remember, if Donald Trump didn't get greedy and try to move the USFL's schedule to go head-to-head with the NFL, they may have lasted a lot longer than they did.

For basketball junkies, once the season is over, there is a void. A league such as the UBL can succeed if it is promoted properly. And that appears to be the case.

[Strong Island Sound]

“12 Teams – One Big Unit”

Waco Wranglers Just One Entity of UBL


Waco, TX- It’s a simple formula. But one that many forget in the heat
and competition of the season in minor league basketball. For Waco
Wranglers owner/head coach Ozzie Denson, it all ends where it starts.

“12 teams, one big unit,” said Denson. “It’s teamwork. In the UBL
(United Basketball League), we all have corporate sponsors and revenue
sharing. We share the wealth here.”

That is one major point that will make the new league succeed where
others have failed. According to Denson, sponsors are signed up for
the entire league rather than just one organization.

“All the UBL teams get what I get [if I secure a sponsor]. We share
everything. And everyone has to bring something to the table. If one
of the 12 teams are not successful, then we have to re-evaluate what
we are doing.”

Denson further described that each owner has a 12-step list that must
be met before each home game. “We’re [UBL] not going to have when you
go to one game, everything is a professional atmosphere. And then when
you go to a different game [at another venue], nothing is there. We’re
there for the entertainment. They [the fans] came to see a basketball
game, but they also want to be entertained. We want this to be like
going to a Dallas Mavericks game, but with affordable ($8- $10)
tickets.”

Part of the professionalism that the league will provide will include
more than just the players on the court. Halftime performances and VIP
treatment for every fan entering the building until the time they
leave is also going to be present.

Although the UBL does not tip off until April of 2008, this provides
plenty of time for everything to be in place when the time comes.
Denson says, “We have 11 months to go. We’ve been marketing, getting
sponsors and making sure that the teams have their venues set.”

Part of that preparation is that all the UBL games are going to be
heard on the radio and via an internet webcast. The league is also
negotiating a ‘UBL Game of the Week’ to be broadcasted on FOX-TV.

The Wranglers participated in the ABA during the 2006-07 season as an
expansion team and qualified for the post-season. They were in perhaps
the toughest division in the league with the Arkansas Aeros and ABA
runner-up Texas Tycoons. The highlight of Waco’s season came on
December 9, 2006 when they won in Texas by a score of 137-131. Guard
Reggie Griffin had a tremendous season and played in the ABA All-Star
Game in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Wranglers’ season ended on a down
note in Mississippi with a 131-119 playoff defeat to the Miracles.

Denson is keeping his team together 12 months a year and holds
practice two to three times a week and feels that he has a good
nucleus. He is unsure if the Wranglers will participate in the ABA
next season and is focusing on the UBL.

Part of that focusing is to assist the new owners along. “I think with
my leadership, with the new teams, I can help them a lot,” Denson
said. “We’re going to work as a unit. That’s why I became a part of
the UBL.”

One issue that has been a consistent negative in minor league
basketball has been game cancellations. According to Denson, that will
not be the case with the UBL.

“We will make all our games. The furthest travel is only four or five
hours away. These things must be done. You have to be better than the
next person. We’re going to step it up.

“The owners are fired up about it. I understand what I’m up against.
Been there, done that. I know the UBL will be a success.”

With strong words and experience from a man like Denson, it’s hard to
disagree with that.

[AConcernedCitizen]

There are several baseball league doing this now. Central ownership of the league and pooling resources. Golden Baseball League is one.

Where is he is spot on is the idea of travelling no more than 4-5 hours per game.

I know from my own league that there we travel to each game on the day of the game, play the game and travel home after the game. There are no hotels, except with very rare exceptions.

This cuts the cost dramatically.

If a league wants to have teams farther than 7 hours bus drive, then you have to have maybe one flight or two on a Southwest type basis and after that, regionalized conferences with playoffs being the difference.

This sounds promising, except for trying to create a Dallas Mavs environment. You can't. You can create a positive familty environment with good games and good entertainment, but it will never, ever be the Mavs. No point in even mentioning it; it's setting yourself up for criticism from people who don't understand what you're trying to do.

[Strong Island Sound]

Point well taken. But if an owner strives to be as good as an NBA team, then at least he or she is looking in the right direction. If you can't play your games at Madison Square Garden, then bring the Garden to your arena. If you put on a good show with music, sound effects, a legitimate PA announcer, mascot, dance team, halftime and time-out activities, then at least you know that you gave it your all. If you publicize it and get people there, the good show will bring them back.

[AConcernedCitizen]

I totally agree with you, but I would never use the letters NBA in any information I put out. I would call it professional basketball, and a top-level entertainment experience, but never mention the NBA. I would like to keep an eye on this.

What do you do with your team Strong?

[ChumpDumper]

I went to the exhibition between the Texas Wranglers and Texas Capital Sounds today. It was part of some community GTG, so it was held in a new elementary school gym, with all the foibles of play that implies (I really couldn't hear the announcer so I didn't get the score; let's just say a tiny court is more easily defended).

The Wranglers had nine players suited up, the Sounds ten.

The Wranglers were wearing their home ABA unis, although a couple were wearing road bottoms. The Sounds had hard to read, read and black Taker-like tops over black shorts.

The biggest issue I saw was there was only one referee, although the lack of fouls sped up the game considerably. There wasn't a full stat staff there either, but it was an exhibition after all.

Admission was $2 but it was unclear who was getting the money since the there was a lot of school fundraising going on.

According to the literature handed out, the teams planning to play in Spring 08 are:

Texas Capital Sounds (who may not play in Austin. See following thread)
Texas Wranglers (Dallas)
North Missouri Hawks (Tarkio)
Arkansas Warriors (Little Rock)
San Antonio Soul
Springfield Thrill (Missouri)
Fort Worth Falcons
Dallas Outlaws (Mesquite?)
Oklahoma City
Tyler
San Angelo

So it looks like nothing came of the talks with the former USBL teams, unfortunately. If they are rolling with two divisions, one of the Dallas area teams might have to volunteer to be in the Northern Division and travel more.

They also have claim to have an agreement with some company called "Red Eye TV" for internet webcasts. I suppose the injunctions from Fox News Channel and the Chicago Tribune over the name are forthcoming.

[ChumpDumper]

The owner writes on the Sounds website that he is having trouble securing a venue in Austin. Apparently an agreement with Houston-Tillotson University fell through, and the Sounds may be splitting their games between Texas State University in San Marcos and maybe even San Antonio. There is a chance they could play in the Austin School District's Delco Center -- which is actually in a fairly convenient location -- but for now the league's premiere is slated to be played between San Antonio and the Sounds in San Marcos on April 3, 2008.

I believe that securing venues and being able to play all the games are real priorities in this league. It actually got its start when the ABA Wranglers had an opponent cancel twice and the Sounds (not in the ABA) played in their place. We'll see how things continue to develop.

[ezstreet]

Nothing about a Topeka team?

It's listed on their site.

Of course, no one in town has heard anything about them even looking here....

[ChumpDumper]

Yes, I should have written that there are fewer teams listed in the literature than on the website. Since the website is updated sporatically, I'm going with the handout in this case. It specifically said these teams were gearing up for the 2008 season, so Topeka and the other locations might be expansion teams for 09. I think there might be a chance some WBA team might be shoehorned in during the coming months as well.