CEBL

Canadian Elite Basketball League folds its franchise in Newfoundland

The Canadian Elite Basketball League is suspending operations of its franchise in St. John's, N.L. after just one season, the league announced on Friday.

Growlers' venue 'lacked the amenities' deemed suitable for professional league

The Newfoundland Growlers fold in the wake of the announcement that the CEBL is expanding to Winnipeg. (Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press)

The Canadian Elite Basketball League is suspending operations of its franchise in St. John's, N.L. after just one season, the league announced on Friday.

CEBL commissioner Mike Morreale said the decision to fold the Newfoundland Growlers franchise was made because its home arena, the Field House at Memorial University, lacked the amenities required by a professional league.

The announcement came two days after the league granted an expansion team to Winnipeg for the 2023 season. Winnipeg's name and logo will be announced at a later date.

Morreale said the Growlers could return to St. John's under "better circumstances" in the future.

The Growlers became the CEBL's 10th franchise on Nov. 26, 2021 as part of the league's third round of expansion since it launched in 2018 with six clubs.

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