River Lions staying put
Niagara’s National Basketball League of Canada team signs three-year Meridian Centre deal.
The roar will return. After a successful first two seasons the Niagara River Lions announced Wednesday that the franchise will remain in the region for the foreseeable future after agreeing to terms with Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines on a new three-year lease.
The River Lions, who play in the National Basketball League of Canada, drew more than 1,800 fans per game to their 20 home games this past season.
“I am personally pleased to come to a long-term agreement with the City of St. Catharines and SMG (property management group) to continue playing basketball at the Meridian Centre,” said Niagara River Lions founder and chief executive officer Richard Petko, who was part of the ownership group that brought the franchise to Niagara back in 2015.
“We’re proud to have the Niagara River Lions call the Meridian Centre home,” St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik said. “Over the past two seasons, the team has built a strong fan base around an exciting family experience.”
“We look forward to the continued success of the River Lions as it has had - and will continue to have - a positive impact on the transformation of our downtown.”
Petko, and the rest of the River Lions ownership group, worked weeks to hammer out the new deal with Meridian Centre management.
“Establishing a professional sports franchise is all about the hard work and dedication of players and staff,” Meridian Centre general manager Ken Noakes said. “And that same hard work and dedication is what makes the Meridian Centre tick.”
“It is because of the efforts of these two organizations that we will be able to continue this partnership with the Niagara River Lions of the National Basketball League of Canada.”
“We can’t wait for tipoff for Season 3.”
The River Lions, and sports in general, bring the community together, Regional Chairman Alan Caslin said.
“The Niagara River Lions are such an important piece of the sports community across Niagara Region,” Caslin said. “The River Lions are very invested in our communities and are making important contributions in the sports world but also are extending their reach to support youth and a number of organizations across the region.”
Petko feels the River Lions have donated close to $340,000back to charities across Niagara through sponsorship and ticket giveaways.
That isn’t lost on Caslin or others. “This year I was pleased to sponsor the Minor Sports Appreciation Night (at a River Lions game) through the Regional Chair’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament which is a way that the River Lions support young and upcoming athletes across our region.”
“With a new agreement with the Meridian Centre in place, I look forward to the upcoming years of exciting basketball and building on the strong existing community partnership with the Niagara River Lions,” the regional chairman said.
The 2017-18 Niagara River Lions regular season will get underway this fall.
“We know the Meridian Centre is one of the top venues in our league and helps in providing the exciting atmosphere at River Lions games,” Petko said. “We look forward to bringing a winning, and championship calibre, team to the court in the years to come.”
While fans await for season three to tip off, they may be able to catch some basketball action sooner than expected as the River Lions hope to play in a summer tournament called “The Basketball Tournament” in which they must be voted in by fans. The Lions are asking fans to vote by visitingwww. riverlions.ca/tbt . ... Kirk Williams Jr, Sam Muldrow, Carl Hall and Nick Okorie are just four players from last years squard committed to play if the team receives enough votes. The deadline to register your vote is June 1 at noon.