|
May
9, 2008
Home -
WBA Updates Index
| |
Continental Basketball Association To Hold CBA
Caribbean Summit May 21-23
 ALBANY,
NY (April 14, 2008) – CBA Properties, LLC (CBAP)
today announced that the Continental Basketball
Association is exploring expansion into the
Caribbean through the licensing of a CBA Caribbean
league. CBAP has partnered with Sports Perspective
International (SPI) to organize a CBA Sports Summit
in the Dominican Republic. The sports summit will
focus on establishing CBA teams in the various
island countries and developing a sports tourism
program.
According to the International Basketball Federation
(French: Fédération Internationale de Basketball),
more commonly known by the French acronym FIBA, the
association of national organizations that governs
international competition in basketball, over 450
million people played basketball on a competitive
and grassroots level in 2007. The CBA is a long
standing member of FIBA, which is the basketball
standard in the Caribbean and the world.
The Continental Basketball Association, aware of the
growing trend, is exploring expansion by creating
CBA Caribbean, a league that will offer franchise
opportunities throughout the Caribbean. It will
outline those opportunities at the summit in Santo
Domingo, Dominican Republic, May 21-23. The summit
is open to anyone interested in investing in the
league, in individual teams, in sponsorship, sports
tourism and in broadcasting games.
“This is a chance for sports ownership at the
grassroots level,” said Ricardo A. Richardson,
President and CEO of CBA Properties, LLC.
“International expansion is a priority of the CBA
and part of our strategic marketing plan that will
put the CBA on the map globally as well as back here
in the USA.” Richardson continued, “The Caribbean
has a strong love for basketball, as it is one of
the more popular sports there. I was one of the
fortunate ones to be able to receive a basketball
scholarship to play in the U.S.” Richardson played
in the Bahamas with Rick Fox, the former Los
Angeles Laker star. “My hope is by bringing the CBA
professional basketball brand to the Caribbean; many
other young talented players will be exposed to the
game and may ultimately reach the NBA, as Fox and
Tim Duncan did,” Richardson said.
Establishing a league in Caribbean, which is so
close to the United States, represents an
opportunity to capitalize off the popularity of
basketball in the U.S., and open that market to
sponsors who want to market their products in an
area of rapid population growth that is quickly
warming to the game. Baseball is the top sport in
countries like the Dominican Republic, but
basketball is a solid number two, with several
countries, including the Dominican Republic, already
boasting professional leagues.
Charles S. Farrell, president of SPI stated,
“SPI has developed strong relationships at the
highest levels of sports in the Dominican Republic,
and throughout the Caribbean as a whole. Among
others, we will be inviting the Ministers of Sports
and Tourism to participate in the summit, and
represent their respective countries.” Farrell
continued, “We will also be working with the
basketball federations of each of the countries, as
they are the governing bodies of the sport and have
to play an intregral part in the establishment of
this globally recognized professional league.”
Harold Mendez, Esq., senior consultant with
SPI, added, “Our experience in working on developing
baseball in the D.R. gives us the skills to educate
and develop the league along with the CBA, the
oldest professional league in the U.S. As the league
grows in popularity and fans, economic growth will
also follow.” Mendez continued, “We fully expect the
league to be economically viable right from the
beginning, making it a solid investment at a
reasonable price.”
The CBA was founded in 1946, and is one of the
oldest professional leagues in the United States.
The CBA is an active member of USA Basketball, and
FIBA, the international governing body of
basketball. The league has sent over 600 players to
the NBA and has a prestigious list of coaches that
started their careers in the CBA, including Phil
Jackson (LA Lakers), Flip Saunders (Detroit
Pistons), and George Karl (Denver Nuggets).
Sports Perspective International,
founded in 1988, is a full service sports advocacy,
marketing and consulting firm that offers career and
job counseling, and also provides consulting
services in marketing; web and graphic design;
licensing, manufacturing and merchandising; events;
production; promotions; and management, to name just
a few. SPI can assist individuals and companies with
diversity issues, incorporation, business plans,
sponsorship and grants, proposal development,
educational initiatives, and other technical
support. Clients of SPI include, Latino Sports
Initiative, Magic Johnson Enterprises, Calvin
Johnson Group, NBA Retired Players Association,
NASCAR/Nextel, and the Miller Racing Group.
More information about the summit and how to
register is available at
www.cbahoopsonline.com and at
www.sportsperspectivesint.com. Space for the
summit is limited and available on a first-come
basis. The deadline for registration is May 14,
2008. To speak to someone directly about the summit,
call 347-416-0125.
Source:
Continental Basketball Association
|
|
