New pro basketball team debuts in Abbotsford
Posted May 9, 2019 6:24 pm.
Last Updated May 9, 2019 6:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) – The Province has a new pro basketball team and while it might not be the NBA, the Fraser Valley Bandits look to establish a spot in the sports and entertainment landscape starting Thursday night.
The Bandits are competing in the brand new Canadian Elite Basketball League, one of six teams across the country – there are other franchises in Saskatoon, Edmonton, Hamilton, Guelph, and St. Catherines Ontario.
The local club, featuring mainly local content with previous pro and major college experience, will play it’s games Thursday night through the end of August in Abbotsford.
Andrew Savory is the team’s manager of marketing and communications – he laid out where the bulk of the fanbase is.
“We do have some season ticket holders in Vancouver,” says Andrew Savory, the team’s communications and marketing manager. “And then we have a strong ticket base coming in from Surrey as well, however predominantly we are Chilliwack, Langley, Mission and Abbotsford, but basketball is a sport in itself, it’s such a universal and inclusive product.”
He says once people see the team play and the atmosphere they’ll want to come back. He adds that while having local content on the team with pro experience both here and overseas helps, they’re trying for that wide appeal from an entertainment standpoint – something that’s essential for any new startup league.
“Anyone who’s a fan of march madness and like a collegiate atmosphere when it comes to drum lines? I think you’ll be well suited to come to a Bandits game because we have a DJ, there’s a drumline involved and we got some Canadian content too so something for everyone, the sports fans and the entertainment fans.”
Single game tickets start at $22.
