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ABA basketball arrives in Tampa

May 1, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Tampa Bay Strong Dogs News Release


Wesley Chapel, FL. Strong-S President and team owner Tatsuya Okawa announced today that the Harlem Strong Dogs ABA basketball team will move to Tampa Bay to become the Tampa Bay Strong Dogs. Okawa, who created the $10.5 million Sports + Field pro-athlete and member training facility in Wesley Chapel, has owned the Harlem Strong Dogs since 2004.

"Since we already have a top notice strength and conditioning training facility in Tampa, and since the bay area is such a large, growing market, we feel there is a natural synergy. The area is ready to enjoy the exciting, fan-oriented, fast-paced basketball that the ABA brings to town," said Okawa.

Season ticket pricing (which will be family-friendly), game site and schedules have not been announced yet, but the team plans to start play in November. The Tampa Bay Strong Dogs will practice at Sports+Field's NBA regulation basketball court/gymnasium and will work out with their coaches in the state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility.

Team try-outs will be held June 3 at Sports+Field. Dance Team try-outs will be held on June 24. For more information, contact General Manager Gregg Gruhl at 813 948 5501 or Director of Basketball/Game Day Operations Shawn Cleary at 813 948 5517.

"With the current ownership of the Tampa Bay Strong Dogs, we feel the timing is right to deliver the ABA's fan friendly basketball entertainment. Strong-S has international experience in sports-related businesses, including Tampa, which will be a great foundation for success. We are very proud to be in the Tampa Bay area and are confident that the team will thrive there," said ABA League CEO Joe Newman.

Basketball will be in the spotlight at Sports+Field with the Strong Dogs arrival, 3-on-3 corporate leagues and basketball leagues for teens and adults which are open to members and non-members. On May 13, Cincinnati-based KMG Sports Marketing will bring 10 prospective NBA draft players to Sports+Field to focus on strength, conditioning and speed training.

The two-level, 29,700 sq. ft. facility includes workout areas with world-class strength and cardio-training equipment, an NBA-regulation basketball court/gymnasium, a second-floor group fitness room, an outdoor 50-yard conditioning/sprint field and professional baseball practice area and bullpen.

While Sports+Field offers a full complement of luxury workout rooms, equipment, showers, lockers, sauna, steam rooms and massage facilities for both professionals and community members, the areas are separate, each with their own entrance.

STRONG-S Corporation, based in New York and Tokyo, is the parent company of Sport+Field. The company is engaged in pro athlete management, licensing, and strength and conditioning, as well as additional sports related businesses including: sports training and management; business and management consulting, development and training of strength-conditioning coaches, personal trainers and fitness instructors; planning and management of events and seminars, and development and sales of fitness equipment.

For more information about Sports+Field athletic training facility, call 813 948 5500 or visit www.sportsandfield.net or www.tampabaystrongdogs.com or www.abalive.com.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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