In its 93 years in the construction business Ball Construction of Kitchener, Ont. has ample experience building multi-purpose arenas suitable for events such as hockey and basketball games.
Now its next challenge will be to build a new professional basketball franchise from the ground up, hoping to sell out those types of arenas.
The newest franchise in the National Basketball League of Canada was unveiled at a press conference held in Kitchener June 28 with Ball Construction introduced as the majority owner.
Cam Ball, who has added the title of team vice-president to his vice-president duties with Ball Construction, explained there is a strong sports culture within the builder and the firm already sponsors a dozen or so local amateur sports teams each year. So when a couple of months ago the builder was approached as a potential franchise owner, it seemed like a good fit.
"It was something that presented itself to look at, and after we investigated we thought it would be a great thing for the community and that’s why we are excited to be involved in it," said Ball. "All three of the ownership groups have the same philosophy, which is it’s a community initiative. We are not looking at it as an opportunity to promote ourselves or to generate revenue. The number-one priority is that it is an opportunity to give back to the community and provide something that the kids can enjoy. It is a very family-oriented event."
The two minority owners are Innosoft Canada, a tech company, and local entrepreneur Leon Martin.
The cost of a franchise in the five-year-old league was $300,000. An outside source said annual operating costs might be between $500,000 and $750,000. The salary cap for the 12-man roster is $150,000 and four of the players must be Canadian.
Ball said he was told it might take up to three years for the team to break even. He said he looks to the nearby London Lightning, an obvious rival for the as-yet-unnamed new Kitchener team, for inspiration.
"We got introduced to the league by watching a London Lightning game, and they are a model franchise, 7,000 or 8,000 people attend their games and it is just a professional, high-energy environment," he said. "The calibre of basketball is great, the fan experience is exciting.
"It is not just a sit-on-your-seat spectator event."
Besides several other gymnasiums and recreational buildings, Ball Construction was involved in the builds of mid-sized arenas to accommodate Ontario Hockey League (OHL) teams in St. Catharines and Guelph.
"We networked with a lot of sports organizations, sports management companies that deal with that," said Ball.
Also playing a major executive role for the new franchise is Ball Construction chief financial officer Frank Schneider, who will serve as president of basketball operations. Schneider is a hoops keener who played at a high level for the local Conestoga College team, said Ball.
Ball described his role as remaining on full-time duty with the construction business but also contributing to the basketball squad.
"We have a lot of talented people in-house already including the two other owners of the team," said Ball. "We are trying to figure out how to staff that but we have a lot of skill we are going to be able to tap into."
As for the basketball side, the team is currently looking to hire a team manager and coach. The league provides scouting services including player tryout combines throughout the U.S.
The logical place for the team to play is the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, home of the OHL Kitchener Rangers, which has a hockey capacity of 7,777. Ball said there have been discussions but no agreement has been signed yet. Ticket prices might be slightly lower than the cost of a Rangers’ game — Ball suggested $15 to $20 per ticket.
The National Basketball League of Canada will play with 10 teams next year — five in a Maritimes division and five in Ontario. The other Ontario franchises are in Orangeville, Windsor and Niagara.
The time frame before the team’s first game is short, Ball acknowledged.
"We have been moving very quickly, from not knowing anything about the league to getting to the point where we are now. And Dec. 26 is the opening day of the league."
The franchise is holding a team naming contest with a deadline of July 15. Fans have been invited to send entries to info@kwnbl.com.
Ball Construction executives (from left) Cam Ball, Frank Schneider and Jason Ball will take the firm’s sports sponsorship culture a step further as the builder becomes the majority owner of the new Kitchener franchise in the National Basketball League of Canada.
Photo: Ball Construction"
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