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(Posted
11 a.m., Nov. 22)
Ottawa
professional basketball franchise has Orléans connection
By
Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
Ottawa's
newest professional sports team has a local connection.
Orléans resident Gus Takkale is the president and
CEO of Bytown Sports and Entertainment, the group behind
the National Capital's entry in the National Basketball
League of Canada.
Ottawa
will be the ninth team in the league which has been operating
since November 2011. Other franchises include the Montreal
Jazz, the Moncton Miracles, the Halifax Rainmen and the
Windsor Express
The
season runs from early November to the end of March. Each
12-man roster must have a minimum of three Canadians with
a salary cap of $150,000.
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Bytown Sports and Entertainment president
George Takkale (left), Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson
and NBLC co-founder Ian McCarthy attended
a press conference on Wednesday announcing
the awarding of a professional basketball
franchise to Ottawa. Photo courtesy of Bytown
Sports
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The
Ottawa franchise has launched a naming contest to come
up with a name by the end of the year. A logo and branding
will be developed shortly thereafter and officially unveiled
in early 2013. Fans can submit their suggestions at basketballottawa.com.
The
team hopes to name a coaching staff by the spring, with
players signed through the summer. A combine and draft
will be held in August.
Takkale
is an author with a background in professional speaking
on "personal change and success", who has no
limit when it comes to optimism.
He's
confident the team will draw the 3,500 to 4,500 fans they
need to be successful, and then some. Ticket prices in
Scotiabank Place are expected to range from $10-$12 for
upper bowl seats, $20-$25 for lower bowl seats; and $75-$95
for courtside seats.
The
average attendance during the league's fledgling season
was under 3,000 although some games drew over 5,000 fans.
Takkale
says the league was established to give Canadian born
basketball players a chance to continue to play basketball
on their home soil after they graduate from university.
"We
want to urge local kids to play professional basketball
in Canada rather than go to the U.S. or over in Europe,"
says Takkale referring specifically to kids coming out
of the University of Ottawa and Carleton programs.
The
only player of note from the area currently in the league
is Willy Manigat who is on the Summerside Storm. Manigat
played high school ball at Samuel Genest before joining
the Carleton Ravens in 2009.
For
more information about the National Basketball League
of Canada visit http://nblcanada.pointstreaksites.com/view/nblcanada.
(This
story was made possible thanks to their generous support
of our local business
partners.)
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