The Champions League, a non-NBA affiliated basketball venture featuring former NBAers, is "hoping to provide family-friendly and affordable entertainment during the NBA’s downtime," according to Sam Amick of USA TODAY. The league, which was to be announced today, will include 16 teams to begin competing in the summer of '16, with a "strong preference for players who have competed in the NBA during the last three years." The league will include teams in N.Y., Boston, Philadelphia, DC, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta and Cleveland, with the "goal to employ approximately 250 players in all (170 on teams, others as player-coaches or in other roles)." Each team "would have two former NBA All-stars on the roster and a Hall of Famer in the front office." Champions League Chair & CEO Carl George said that 60 players "have committed to this point, with many more 'in the pipeline' while the subsequent teams are rolled out." Approximately 30 games would be "played in July and August, with 10 charity/marketing events in non-NBA markets during the non-season months also included as part of a player’s compensation package." George said that players on average "would make approximately $200,000 per year (for 80 or 90 days of work) in their pay structure if they take part in both the season and the charity events." Division-winning players also "get a $50,000 raise, and championship tournament winners -- it’s a March Madness style tournament setup -- would earn an extra $100,000 as well." Tickets will cost $25 each, and while there are "no season ticket packages," there will be "plenty of discount offerings for multiple-game packages." The first charity game, scheduled to be aired on ESPN3, "will take place" Jan. 29 in Saint Louis Univ.'s Chaifetz Arena. Proceeds from the event will go to the V Foundation and the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund (USA TODAY, 11/17).
