City backs scaled-down hoops plan

National women’s basketball team to be based in Edmonton

A city council committee recommended Wednesday moving ahead with a scaled-back plan to base Canada’s national senior women’s basketball team in Edmonton.

Earlier this month, councillors approved spending $500,000 annually for four years as part of a plan for Canada Basketball to relocate eight national teams to the Saville Community Sports Centre.

However, the province recently indicated it won’t provide the $1.9-million requested for the proposal this year, so only the women’s team is coming.

Canada Basketball will also set up a permanent office in Edmonton, discuss creating a Canadian basketball hall of fame and holding international and National Basketball Association exhibition games in Edmonton, and look at moving more teams in future.

As well, a program will work with at-risk and inner-city youth, said Paul Sir, executive director of Basketball Alberta.

There’s always a risk another centre will outbid Edmonton for the basketball program in future, but local officials have a good relationship with Canada Basketball and the right of first refusal on the package, Sir told reporters.

“Everybody else is playing catch-up. For us, the key is, let’s get started on what we can do and hopefully draw the whole program into Edmonton.”

The plan requires final approval by city council next week.