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It's official — or is it? Pro basketball league announces N.L. franchise, city says not yet

The National Basketball League of Canada has announced a new franchise for St. John's this fall, but an arena deal may not be done yet.

Different ownership groups in talks since spring, board of governors approved one Friday

Ryan Cooke · CBC News ·
After a deal fell through earlier this month, another pair of ownership groups have stepped up efforts to bring professional basketball to St. John's. (Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images, CBC)

The National Basketball League of Canada has announced a new franchise for St. John's this fall, but an arena deal may not be done yet.

The league sent out a tweet on Friday evening, welcoming Newfoundland and Labrador's capital city to the 11-team league.

City councillor Sandy Hickman, however, has told CBC News that Mile One Centre is not locked into the deal yet. The city may have more information on Monday, he said, but a lease agreement has not yet been completed.

Hickman, who sits on the board of St. John's Sports and Entertainment and helps oversee Mile One Centre operations, said the city is not ready for a similar announcement.

"I don't want to prejudice any team and their dealings with the league," Hickman said. "They should carry on and do their thing, but at some point they need to have a deal with us, that's for sure.

"Right now, I don't think we have anything we can report at this time."

A while in the works

News of the league's intentions to expand into Newfoundland broke in May, when it was said a decision was coming within 30 days. That didn't happen.

On June 30, then-commissioner David Magley said the league would have an announcement within days. Two days later, Magley stepped down from his post and moved home to Indiana, where he's heading up a new American league.

Through it all, prospective ownership groups have come and gone.

One headed by former St. John's IceCaps executive Glenn Stanford fell through when the proponents could not come to terms with the city on a lease agreement for Mile One Centre.

The National Basketball League of Canada has teams across Eastern Canada, drawing many players from top American universities. (KW Titans/Facebook)

Before stepping down as commissioner, Magley said there were two groups aside from Stanford's who remained in the running.

It is unclear who the league has chosen to operate the franchise out of St. John's.

The regular season is slated to get underway on Nov. 18 and will run until April 2, 2018.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan Cooke

Ryan Cooke is a journalist with the Atlantic Investigative Unit, based in St. John's. He can be reached at ryan.cooke@cbc.ca.

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