Pro Basketball in Mississauga Has Arrived
Pro basketball in Mississauga has arrived.
The Mississauga Power held their introductory press conference on their new home court at the Hershey Centre yesterday to welcome professional basketball to the city.
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Power Basketball is looking for a fresh start in Mississauga, having recently relocated from Oshawa where the team spent the first two years in the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC).
Team president Henry Chow has high hopes for the club in Mississauga, a place they refer to as “a basketball city.”
“I’m so glad to be here to announce the relocation of our team to Mississauga,” said Chow. “We’re only in our second year of the NBL here in Canada and we’re growing and I hope we can cover more and more cities every year and let all Canadians enjoy this wonderful Canadian game.”
The branding of the team remains much the same. A slight update to the logo has simplified the look and made it a clean, powerful looking image. The black and white colour scheme is classy and reminiscent of the Brooklyn Nets image.
With the expansion Brampton A’s playing at the Powerade Centre just a few minutes drive north, a Nets and Knicks-style rivalry isn’t too far-fetched.
“I promise you if anyone comes to a game, they will come year after year, again and again,” said Chow.
Paul Jones of NBA TV Canada served as MC for the conference and remarked at the prime location for the team and the crisp logo. Jones’ co-host Sherman Hamilton, Team Canada Head Coach Jay Triano, Jermaine Anderson and Jevohn Shepherd of the Canadian Senior National Team and others were among the 80-plus people in attendance including Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion who received the team’s first jersey.
“It’s an exciting day for us,” said McCallion. “I want to welcome the team to Mississauga, I believe this team will really bring a lot of excitement to the city. I wish you every success and I want to guarantee you that the staff at the Hershey Centre and the City of Mississauga will work with the team to make sure that this beautiful facility is filled with fans.”
NBL Canada’s COO Ian McCarthy expressed his excitement about the new position for the team and the continued growth of the league.
“The NBL Canada just completed its second season and 400,000-plus people went through the turnstiles last season,” said McCarthy. “We had rave reviews on the quality of basketball and right now everyone is talking about the golden era of basketball in Canada and it’s just beginning.”
Power Basketball also announced partnerships in the community. The Power will be working with The Sports Clinic at the University of Toronto-Mississauga and Sheridan College to give students a hands-on experience with pro sports. The Power is also launching a professional/amateur men’s league this summer with Mega City Basketball, which will provide a platform for aspiring players to develop and be noticed against quality competition.
Hershey Centre will host the first Power game this fall, likely in early November. With 5500 seats and affordable tickets starting at $15 and season tickets for $150, Power Nation is ready to take it to a whole new level of basketball and entertainment.
