Hockey team says no to Pensacola Aviator basketball
Published on August 20, 2004 under American Basketball Association (ABA)
Pensacola Aviators News Release
Indianapolis, IN. The ABA Pensacola Aviators will not play this year because of their inability to work out a lease with the Civic Center. The current hockey tenant has exclusivity at the Civic Center and will not allow the Aviators to play. The hockey owner is concerned he would lose both ticket revenue and corporate revenue in having another sports team in the Civic Center.
The Aviators are disappointed and had made an offer to be a substantial sponsor of the hockey team to facilitate the execution of a lease which would bring ABA basketball to Pensacola this year.
Joe Newman and Dick Tinkham, co-owners of the ABA, expressed their belief that the two sports can co-exist and help each other. Tinkham was involved as an owner of the Indiana Pacers when he and others developed Market Square Arena in Indianapolis which welcomed the WHA hockey Racers who signed a lease to play during the same winter seasons as the Pacers.
Oliver Darden, the owner of the Aviators, indicatedd that he would play this year if a lease could be worked out with the Civic Center.
If you have questions or comments, direct them either to abaquestions@syphon.com or news@pensacolanewsjournal.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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- Hockey team says no to Pensacola Aviator basketball - Pensacola Aviators
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