http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/s ... le/1426120
Metro's pro hoop squad draws closer
Published Saturday July 23rd, 2011
Moncton expected to officially join circuit in matter of weeks
By Sean Hatchard
Times & Transcript staff
The drive to bring professional basketball to Moncton is nearly complete.
Moncton City Council approved a memorandum of understanding between an out-of-town ownership group and the city on a three-year contract for use of the Moncton Coliseum this week, one of the final steps before a Moncton franchise is accepted into the fledgling National Basketball League of Canada.
League president Andre Levingston said last night he expects it's just a matter of weeks before Moncton is officially added to the circuit.
"We still have some due diligence to do from a league standpoint with the ownership group and the facility in Moncton, but everything is headed in the right direction," Levingston said.
"Everything looks very positive. We're very confident there will be professional basketball in Moncton this year. In the next couple weeks we should have everything we need to approve the franchise and be ready for an announcement."
The ownership group, which is bringing the franchise to Moncton but does not wish to be identified yet, was originally looking to put a team in Kingston, Ont,. but stopped negotiations with that city and suddenly turned its attention to Moncton and began talks to reach an agreement for use of the city-owned Coliseum.
Levingston, who is also the owner and president of the league's Halifax Rainmen, said he is very confident of the Moncton ownership group.
"One hundred per cent. This is a group that we were excited about from Day 1," he said. "We were looking for this group to put a team in Kingston as everyone knows. That fell through, but we're excited about professional basketball being played in Moncton and we're excited about the team that is leading it."
Canada's first national professional basketball league expects to have seven teams in its inaugural season. There's Halifax, Saint John Mill Rats, Quebec Kebs, Moncton, Charlottetown, London, Ont., and Oshawa, Ont.
The league is set to tip off in November with a 36-game regular season schedule, with playoffs in March.
Halifax, Saint John and Quebec left the Premier Basketball League after the 2011 season. The owners of those franchises found new markets and in May announced the creation of the National Basketball League of Canada.
"We're ready to welcome the National Basketball League of Canada and we're certainly excited about the potential," said Ian Fowler, City of Moncton's general manager of economic development, tourism and culture.
"On the other hand, we are cautious about the tight time frame of putting the pieces together for (the start of the season), but we've been impressed with the attitude of the ownership group, their philosophy and their understanding that they have an uphill battle for season 1, but they're up for the challenge."
Fowler said a portion of the ownership group will arrive in Moncton next week to begin operations process of the team. He hopes to have a news conference to introduce the owners and the team to the city next month.
"I've been impressed with A their business background, B their ties to basketball and probably most impressive, their philosophy as it relates to developing a team and becoming part of the community," Fowler said.
"Their prime purpose coming next week is to start to meet local people who could potentially play various roles with the team. Other than the coaching staff, they're looking to fill front office jobs to a dance team choreographer to a coaching clinic coordinator to game-day staff, all from the community."
Fowler said he believes a National Basketball League of Canada franchise can work in Moncton.
"If you had asked me that question a year ago or 18 months ago, I would have said a team may work, but it would be a longshot. Having followed the league more closely this year because of Saint John having a team and obviously Halifax, and having an opportunity to see some games and the calibre of the product and see the game-day presentation where the game was truly an event, I'm cautiously optimistic that Moncton and southeast New Brunswick will embrace the program," he said.
"When you look at the minor basketball programs here in the southeast - from Petitcodiac through to Amherst - to the school programs, the sport has strong roots. If a team reaches into the community and does what is happening in Saint John and Halifax, then I believe we'll have a successful franchise."
