Kentucky Bisons Suspend Operations
December 13, 2010 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Kentucky Bisons News Release
To our loyal fans and supporters of the Kentucky Bisons;
We are very disappointed and heartbroken to report that we have had to make the painful decision to cancel the season planned for the Owensboro Kentucky Bisons. We do so because of the disappointing support we've gotten from Owensboro businesses as well as the city. As you are aware, for two years we have had teams of very talented players who not only gave it their best on the court, were a pleasure to watch perform, were true role models, who loved to hang around after a game and talk to fans, to kids, and even visited local schools talking to students encouraging them to stay in school, finish their education. We tried very hard to provide affordable quality family entertainment. We were good enough to be asked to play in China two years in a row. In China, we were the Owensboro Kentucky Bisons and were very popular with Chinese fans on and off the court.
We are saying all this because we believe we were good ambassadors for Owensboro. We deserved better support than we got from many, even from the city. I personally spoke at several civic clubs trying to get us better known. I always had good response and encouragement, but then......very little sponsorship help ever appeared despite my offer to advertise businesses on our website, on banners at our games, on programs, on our PA system. I made very few businesses' advertising budget, even for $300-$500, without which, we can't take our team on the road to play away games. We had an extremely difficult time breaking even at home with all the entertainment we tried to provide, not to mention the surcharge the city imposed. So, for obvious personal reasons, we will not play in Owensboro this year.
I regret to cancel this season for the Bisons. We are considering our options for next year. The ABA has very graciously agreed to let us suspend operations this year. They would like to help us continue and, they are trying and are encouraging us to look at moving to a city more receptive and helpful. The ABA has found a former NBA All-Star player who wants to own and manage an ABA team. I am to meet with him soon. I love Owensboro, but apparently only a few of our loyal fans feel same way about our effort and to you we sincerely apologize.
Thanks for your support,
Jay Sills, Owner & G.M.
James G. Sills, M.D., Owner
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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