Flint denied IBL franchise
by IBL Press Release
Published on October 6, 2000 under International Basketball League 1 (IBL 1)
Ownership Group Denied IBL Expansion Franchise
IBL Press Release
Stones will not be a part of the League
October 5, 2000 - Baltimore, Md. - The International Basketball League (IBL) announced today that the Flint/Genesee Basketball Association, operating as the ownership group of the Flint/Michigan Stones, will not be fielding an expansion franchise in the up-coming IBL season.
The Flint/Michigan Stones ownership group was provided a window of opportunity to meet the IBL mandated requirements for entry into the League and failed to meet those requirements. The League office issued the prospective franchise a letter in September stating that it would not be included in the annual IBL Collegiate and Supplemental Drafts (Sept. 14, 2000) or the 2000-01 schedule. Since that time, the prospective franchise has failed to meet financial conditions required in the expansion franchise agreement.
"We're especially disappointed for our League and the wonderful basketball fans of Flint and Saginaw," said IBL President, Thaxter R. Trafton. "We've always respected Flint as one of the great basketball cities in the United States and we sincerely hope we'll be there one day under the right ownership structure."
William E. "Mac" McCrary and Carl Hamilton are the controlling partners of the Flint/Genesee Basketball Association which is operating as the prospective ownership group of the Flint/Michigan Stones. The League announced that the Flint/Genesee Basketball Association applied for the rights to the franchise in June with plans to play in Flint, Michigan. Failure to obtain a lease at the IMA Sports Arena in Flint sent the ownership group looking for an arena elsewhere and it secured a tentative agreement with the Wendler Arena in Saginaw, Mich.
International Basketball League 1 Stories from October 6, 2000
- Flint denied IBL franchise - OSC Original by IBL Press Release
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