Struggling CBA Ends Regular Season Early Due To Economy
The Continental Basketball Association (CBA) yesterday announced that it will conclude its '08-09 regular season today, instead of the scheduled March 15 finish. The CBA starting Thursday will hold a three-game championship series between the two teams currently atop the league standings -- the Albany Patroons and the Lawton-Ft. Sill Cavalry. CBA Commissioner Dennis Truax: "Due to the ever increasing problems with the economy, the CBA has decided to abbreviate the remainder of the regular season. This is the best course of action for the CBA to take at this time. The economy has affected us all and we are now directly seeing the fallout from that. We will be holding an owners meeting during the finals as we look to restructure the CBA and come back next season stronger than ever" (CBA). Truax said that team owners will meet this month to "'restructure' the league in time to begin" the '09-10 season. The Albany BUSINESS REVIEW's Adam Sichko noted the CBA has "struggled in recent months," as the league now has just four teams, down from nine in September. The league this season was "already destined to play a shorter schedule" than last year, as the season had been reduced from 48 to 36 games in a "cost-cutting move" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/2).
TRYING TO REBOUND: Truax indicated that he "hopes to have the league return in December with at least eight teams." Truax said abbreviating the season is "not ideal at all. But this gives us the best opportunity to come back next year by stopping now." Truax said that team owners during a conference call Sunday voted unanimously to "abort the rest of the season." Patroons Owner and CBA Chair Ben Fernandez said that the four teams who finished this season are "committed to play in the league next year." In Albany, Tim Wilkin notes the Patroons this year "sold season ticket packages for 16 games," but tonight's final regular-season contest marks the team's 11th home game of the season. Patroons GM Jim Coyne said that season tickets "can be used for the playoff games," and that the team also will "offer refunds" (Albany TIMES UNION, 2/3). Truax last night said, "I'm not feeling good about this. We have abbreviated the season. We're trying to work on expansion for next year" (TROY RECORD, 2/3).
|
