After reviewing the Ottawa ownership group's application, the NBL of Canada's board of directors voted unanimously to bring professional basketball to Ottawa.
"I'm truly excited for the City of Ottawa being awarded a new professional basketball organization,” said NBL of Canada president and CEO Andre Levingston. "I know the owners and players will do a tremendous job of supporting the community, along with serving as role models for the youth of Ottawa.
“I'm confident our nation's capital will embrace this amazing opportunity, and support their club."
The new Ottawa professional men's basketball team will hold a press conference at Scotiabank Place on Wednesday, Nov. 21. The Ottawa ownership group will officially introduce themselves and greet the public.
The new Ottawa organization becomes the ninth team in the National Basketball League of Canada. One of the league’s original franchises is the Summerside Storm, who is off to a 3-0 (won-lost) start this season.
Storm co-owners Duncan Shaw and Darren MacKay are very pleased with the addition of the Ottawa franchise.
“Ottawa is a great city with a wonderful sports tradition,” said Shaw. “They have the NHL, major junior hockey, the CFL coming back soon, professional soccer, double-A pro baseball and now an NBL of Canada team joins this great group of sports franchises.
“Interest in the NBL is very high and the league is now able to draw good ownership along with good markets to expand.”
Shaw went on to say: “Television is a key component for any league to move to the next level, and with the addition of Ottawa, along with a franchise move to Montreal, we are now in some of the biggest cities in the country, which can only help us as a league acquire television coverage going forward.”
