Abridged from today's T&T
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.co...rticle/1426120
Metro's pro hoop squad draws closer
Published Saturday July 23rd, 2011
Moncton expected to officially join circuit in matter of weeks
By Sean Hatchard
Times & Transcript staff
The drive to bring professional basketball to Moncton is nearly complete.
Moncton City Council approved a memorandum of understanding between an out-of-town ownership group and the city on a three-year contract for use of the Moncton Coliseum this week, one of the final steps before a Moncton franchise is accepted into the fledgling National Basketball League of Canada.
League president Andre Levingston said last night he expects it's just a matter of weeks before Moncton is officially added to the circuit.
"We still have some due diligence to do from a league standpoint with the ownership group and the facility in Moncton, but everything is headed in the right direction," Levingston said.
"Everything looks very positive. We're very confident there will be professional basketball in Moncton this year. In the next couple weeks we should have everything we need to approve the franchise and be ready for an announcement."
The ownership group, which is bringing the franchise to Moncton but does not wish to be identified yet, was originally looking to put a team in Kingston, Ont,. but stopped negotiations with that city and suddenly turned its attention to Moncton and began talks to reach an agreement for use of the city-owned Coliseum.
Levingston, who is also the owner and president of the league's Halifax Rainmen, said he is very confident of the Moncton ownership group.
"One hundred per cent. This is a group that we were excited about from Day 1," he said. "We were looking for this group to put a team in Kingston as everyone knows. That fell through, but we're excited about professional basketball being played in Moncton and we're excited about the team that is leading it."
Canada's first national professional basketball league expects to have seven teams in its inaugural season. There's Halifax, Saint John Mill Rats, Quebec Kebs, Moncton, Charlottetown, London, Ont., and Oshawa, Ont.
The league is set to tip off in November with a 36-game regular season schedule, with playoffs in March.
(Ian) Fowler said a portion of the ownership group will arrive in Moncton next week to begin operations process of the team. He hopes to have a news conference to introduce the owners and the team to the city next month.
"I've been impressed with A their business background, B their ties to basketball and probably most impressive, their philosophy as it relates to developing a team and becoming part of the community," Fowler said.
"Their prime purpose coming next week is to start to meet local people who could potentially play various roles with the team. Other than the coaching staff, they're looking to fill front office jobs to a dance team choreographer to a coaching clinic coordinator to game-day staff, all from the community."
"When you look at the minor basketball programs here in the southeast - from Petitcodiac through to Amherst - to the school programs, the sport has strong roots. If a team reaches into the community and does what is happening in Saint John and Halifax, then I believe we'll have a successful franchise."