Varsity teams, such as the Carleton Ravens, may have competition for fans if a professional basketball team comes to Ottawa.
Ottawa is on the verge of staking its claim as the hidden gem of the Canadian basketball scene, as the city is in line to land a professional franchise in the National Basketball League (NBL) of Canada.
With Carleton University and the University of Ottawa at or near the top of the collegiate rankings every year, the nation’s capital has a strong foundation already in place.
On the back of that strength, John Kennedy, the commissioner of the NBL of Canada, says he would like to have a franchise in Ottawa within the next two years.
“Our hope is to increase the presence of basketball in Ottawa and to provide an opportunity for both players and coaches in Canada,” he says.
As yet, an owner and home venue for the team have not been chosen. But Kennedy says there are options out there, including at least one “prospective owner” who has shown interest.
Should this plan come to fruition, the city would become the largest market in a league that consists of seven teams. As it stands, the London Lightning hold the title as the strongest franchise, in more ways than one. The Lightning sit atop the league standings with a 27-8 record. They also draw an average of about 3,000 fans per game at the John Labatt Centre.
Tickets start at $18 for adults, while seniors and youths receive slight discounts. Those wishing for a closer look at the action can purchase courtside seats that range from $30 to $60. At those prices, local fan Qusai Ali says he would be part of the crowd should a team come to Ottawa.
“I love the sport, and $60 isn’t much to watch pro basketball,” he says. “Especially if I can watch an ex-NBA player that I know.”
One cause for concern is the influence that hockey has on the sporting scene in the city, with the Senators and 67’s controlling the market. Fans such as Mike Gibbins are excited about the prospect of a team, but are also concerned that professional basketball “might not thrive in a hockey-dominant environment.”
From football to baseball, the city has seen other professional sports fail before. Yet hockey continues to draw fans in droves.
Kennedy says he isn’t worried about the competition for fan support. The commissioner is confident that despite being only eight months old, the league boasts a talent level that will have people reaching into their wallets time and time again.
He says it is better than the product offered by the NBA Development League, and equal to that on display in Europe.
“The level of play is a lot better than you think it is,” says Kennedy. “It is very impressive, so we think we have a good product that people would find entertaining.”
The growing popularity of the game in Canada is also hard to ignore. From 1998-2005, there was a 37-per-cent increase in participation for children between the ages of five and 14, according to Statistics Canada. Today, more than 600,000 Canadians hit the courts regularly.
One of those players is Kaylum Bobal. A standout performer with the Immaculata Saints senior team, the grade 12 student says a professional club would be a “great” addition to the city.
“It would give the people in Ottawa a chance to watch a higher level of basketball that we don’t often see here,” says the 6’2” forward. “University basketball is nice, but to watch a professional team would be awesome.”
He adds that the dreams of many young Canadian ballers are often doused before they really have a chance to begin, given the limited avenues a player can turn to.
Despite the growth and popularity of the sport, only a handful of Canadians play in the NBA, while few are making a real impact at the highest level of the NCAA game.
But with the NBL now in full flight, Bobal says many young players will have a legitimate option to strive for.