34 franchises in 55 days – This league is for real

Now just 55 days ago now the Pro Basketball Association was launched. On December 10th, 2020 the league took it’s message to the United States basketball market. A more professional approach to league management, branding, data analysis, and level of play all merged in a consumer tech friendly package that was economically nimble and organizationally, well, plainly it checked a lot of the boxes for many of those in the industry that have been frustrated with the alternatives for a long while. When innovation and professionalism meet at an attractive price point that helps owners, coaches, players, and staff all do their jobs more effectively and more profitably – expansion occurs in the market. When, because franchises are more profitable, fans and league partners can join in the excitement at a reasonable price – boom everybody wins. This is what Minor leagues have been for baseball for a Century! Hey basketball it’s about time.

What has transpired since has been one press release after another of top level executives, international scouts, sports agencies, new franchises, player signings, and news of two National combines and a Draft. We’re going to catch everyone up with a National look that will focus on which franchises are where by division around the United States. A hawks eye view of the forest rather than that of the trees if you will.

Midwest

The Midwest division has been taking form in the Pro Basketball Association as since December franchises have been awarded to the Elkhart Mavericks (Indiana), Midwest Storm (Romeoville, Illinois), Chicago Angels (Illinois), Chicago Black Angels (Illinois), and Cincinnati Crush (Erlanger, Kentucky).

Forming a cluster of teams in the Central United States, the PBA also has franchises in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma Kings (Tulsa, OK).

Northeast

One organization that could of fit in the Midwest, the Akron Aviators have been placed in the Northeast Division as it’s a short distance for them to the Buckhannon Bears (West Virginia), Buffalo Blaze (New York), and Rochester Razorsharks (New York) so they fit in nicely in that Western half of that division. The model of the PBA is a minimum 6 team division with 5 rivals in division where teams play once at home and once away each – keeping teams with shorter travel and in that 4-8 hour distance by bus. Make the drive, play the game, and come home. On the Atlantic side of that division are the Mid Coast Sternmen (Maine), Mount Vernon Power (New York), and New York Generals (Westchester County).

Southeast

The Southeast Division is the heart of SEC Country. Some of the best fans in the Nation reside in this part of the Country and they love their teams. Birmingham is the home of the Alabama 59ers, Just outside of Memphis is the West Tennessee Heat, Nashville and Louisville have pending applications, another franchise in Alabama is also pending, as well as the Greater Atlanta area. There will be news forthcoming on this front in the coming days! Two franchises have been announced in Houston with the H-Town Astronauts and the Houston Red Storm and they fit perfectly with a planned addition in Louisiana. All told the Gulf Coast Region is excited about basketball returning and the Southeast Division has several really strong franchises.

South and Southwest

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The Pro Basketball Association made much of it’s noise in the South from it’s inception it was strong with 11 teams playing in a bubble (A single location where teams regionally meet to play at one facility) from Texas. It’s a gigantic State. Texarkana in the Northeast to El Paso in the Southwest is a 12 hour drive if you’re doing 70 and have a full tank of gas and don’t stop. El Paso is actually closer to Los Angeles than Texarkana to put it in perspective. It’s big Y’all. The Texas teams are pooling resources to play in something similar in some ways to what the NBA did with their post-season in Orlando, Florida just this past season. The Temple Hawks, Dallas Kings, HoopGoon, DFW Just Hoops, Fort Worth F.I.R.M., Waco Terror, Texas Revelation, Texas Admirals, Fort Worth Prymetyme, Dallas Panthers, and North Texas Saints make up the current 11 franchises with another few announcements pending. Gear up for some more news from the Lone Star State. It’s so lone, that we could only fit one State in the photo.

The league has been speaking with clubs in West Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona and excited about a pending announcement. Stay tuned here!

Northwest

In the Northwest, the Kitsap Admirals (Washington) just outside of Seattle, and Lilac City Legends (Washington) in Spokane make up two franchises in the division now taking form there with several pending announcements coming in the next few days.

Pacific

Several conversations have been had with team owners in the Pacific division but all seem to be hinged on a proposed bubble format similar to what has been established in North Texas. Facility availability in California is a big factor in that part of the Country as the State has been one of the most restrictive when it comes to access to any public events. Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas all have clubs that are ready to play whether it is bubble or classic model and announcements are expected shortly out West.

All told, the Pro Basketball Association currently has 34 franchises that have already been announced with plans for more announcements over the next several days. The league kicks off in May and available home dates will be submitted to the league office in March with a final schedule produced and distributed in April – just after the Draft. This is an exciting time for the PBA. Thanks for being along for the ride. If your city hasn’t been announced yet or a franchise awarded, be patient, we are. It’s with steady growth on a strong foundation that the league will achieve true success.

There are leagues below us, but if joining is less than what it costs to put a 10 year old team in a league at the park… you’re getting what you’re paying for. Not much. There are leagues with a larger investment, and some of them don’t have the best reputation for organization. What about accurate statistics and up to date websites, rosters, and professionalism? At some point no matter how good you are, we’re all judged by the company we keep right?

What about the other end of the spectrum? Owners, if want to spend into the 6 figures in this economic climate and plan on 2000 fans a game and big sponsors year one. Good luck. Nope. What about those with multi-million dollar budgets? Thanks for reading. The Pro Basketball Association has the only economic model where a franchise owner can be profitable immediately in a professional and organized, tech savvy league that players, coaches, fans and sponsors love. Get on board. This train is puffin’ chooo choooo! Coming to a City near you! If you want Pro – You want the Pro Basketball Association!