Sioux Falls Christmas Day Tradition Dates Back 28 Years
December 24, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Sioux Falls Skyforce News Release
Even Sioux Falls Skyforce owner Mike Heineman isn't quite sure how his NBA D-League team wove itself into its home city's Christmas Day plans for 27 of the past 28 years. But the Skyforce keep scheduling games on Christmas Day, and the fans keep filling the stands to watch them play. "When we first pitched it to the leagues, they all kind of thought we were crazy, like, 'Who would go on Christmas?'" Heineman says. "But for some reason, it works in Sioux Falls."
The tradition has now endured through three other leagues - the Skyforce spent their first 12 seasons in the Continental Basketball Association (1989-2000), a year in the now-defunct Intercontinental Basketball League (2000-01), and six more years in the CBA (2001-06) before joining the NBA D-League - two arenas and six NBA affiliates. The only thing that could stop the near-4,500 fans from flocking to the old Sioux Falls Arena was 10 inches of snow in 2009, which forced the event's only cancellation.
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NBA G League Stories from December 24, 2016
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- Sioux Falls Christmas Day Tradition Dates Back 28 Years - Sioux Falls Skyforce
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