Big things happening in Canada
January 5, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Montreal Royal News Release
Montreal, Canada. Melvin and Serena Coles, owners of the highly successful Montreal Matrix ABA basketball team have met with Luc Landry of Landry Communications to discuss marketing and sponsorship strategies for the Matrix. Luc had originally developed some brilliant marketing ideas for the Matrix prior to the ABA season. However, the Coles were not aware of his previous contributions until a meeting in Montreal on Friday, December 30th. One of Luc's many ideas was to hold a Canadian draft for the Montreal Matrix and the Quebec Rock, the new ABA team that will play in Quebec City for the 2006-2007 season. The draft will include Ottawa, another of the Coles' teams also. In mid-November, Luc had previously contacted Melvin about the Coles' new Quebec City team. Luc said a group of investors also wanted the Quebec market which Luc had joined in October. The investor group are also in the communications field, including magazines, radio stations and professional sports team ownership. Luc suggested two possibilities to the Coles. "Number one, we team up and run the business together or number two, we could buy the team from you." Coles, who also own the Ottawa market liked suggestion one.
The group of investors Luc represents own all advertising rights to the Pavillion De La Jeunessa, a 5000 seat arena owned by Quebec City. The city is renovating the arena. The investors, known as Genex Communications, own, in addition to the advertising rights, two hockey franchises in the NAHL that are located in Quebec City and Laval. Genex also has just acquired the Capitales of Quebec, in the Canadian Baseball League. Patrick Bragoli, VP of Genex and Melvin Coles discussed by phone the possibilities of co-ownership or a partnership in late November and had agreed to the meeting in Montreal which will happen this month.
The Coles own seven ABA markets, four in the U.S. and three in Canada. Three teams are in full operation this season; the Baltimore Pearls (www.baltimorepearls.com), Strong Island Sound (www.strongislandsound.com) and the Montreal Matrix (www.montrealmatrixbasketball.com). The Matrix is the most successful of the three so far with a market value of over 1.5 million dollars due to its development and success. One of the reasons for the success is because of its association with the Quebec Federation, which provided many wonderful benefits to the team, including generous terms for the 3000 seat Pierre Charbonneau Arena. Guy Pariseau, the Technical Director of Basketball for the Quebec Federation makes sure that the Matrix are promoted well by constant contact with over 100,000 members of the federation. The Matrix team is also involved in community activities there. Serena Coles, a native of LaSalle, is pleased that the team has a majority of players from Canada and also recently hired Dwight Walton, a basketball legend in Canada, to play for the Matrix.
Because of the teams success, Mr. Coles was recently approached by an accountant representing a group of Montreal investors who want to purchase the Matrix for two million dollars. Serena and Melvin said "to sell our team there is not an option. We are committed to its success." The Coles are also doing feasibility studies in the U.S. for building arenas with their co-owners, Darren Cioffi on Long Island and Dr. Joseph Carr for Wilmington, Delaware.
In Montreal, Mr. Real Bourassa, President and General Manager of Grope Conseil Reference, Inc has offered to introduce the Coles to Jean Francois Amyota, a financial advistor for financing stadiums in Canada, and the Coles will look at adding arenas there also. Groupe Conseil Reference, Inc is also interested in ownership in the Quebec City team. They are a consulting firm offering its services to various businesses in the areas of government assistance searches, industrial commissioner services, development of strategic alliances and socio-economics studies. Melvin Coles and Mr. Bourassa will meet on Friday, Jan 13th in Montreal to further discussion. Coles' market analysts have indicated that the Quebec City should be as successful as Montreal. For more information, contact Mr. Coles at 703 942 7449 or email locker02s@aol.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.
American Basketball Association Stories from January 5, 2006
- C.Y.O. Appreciation Night Saturday, January 14th - Strong Island Sound
- Big things happening in Canada - Montreal Royal
- Buzz to Play Home Games in the OC - Maywood Buzz
- Walton Enters The Matrix - ABA
- Talons To Head Into Bees' Nest - Gallup Outlaws
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