American Basketball Association announces Tampa Bay expansion

DOWNTOWN/TAMPA HEIGHTS - The American Basketball Association (ABA) has announced it will add a team in Tampa Bay for the 2010-2011 season.

"This is the first of 10 ABA teams that will be owned and operated by SEP (Sports Equity Partners) in the Southeast,” stated Joe Newman, ABA’s CEO. "We are very happy to be returning to the Tampa area.”

Additional markets will be named shortly.

The yet to be named team is expected to begin play in November at a to-be-determined home court location. ABA officials have indicated their interest in building a future, permanent sports arena in Tampa Heights area (which is adjacent to downtown, on the north side of Interstate 275).

The ABA existed from 1967 to 1976 – nine full seasons. During that time, it fought with the National Basketball Association (NBA) for players, fans and media attention. In June 1976, the two rival pro leagues finally made peace. Four of the strongest ABA teams (New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs) joined the NBA and survived. The other remaining ABA teams (Kentucky Colonels, Spirits of St. Louis and the Virginia Squires) vanished, along with the ABA itself.

However, its loyal fans still vividly remember the ABA as the "outlaw" league with the psychedelic red, white and blue basketballs and outlandish promotions. It was also the league that created the three-point shot and the first to bring a professional basketball team to Indianapolis, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Charlotte/Greensboro, Louisville, Norfolk and Denver.

Featured players of the ABA include Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Connie Hawkins, George "Ice" Gervin, George McGinnis, Artis Gilmore and Moses Malone.

According to its website, the new ABA league promises to offer Tampa “exciting events that will improve the quality of entertainment for local citizens by giving them a leisure outlet that is affordable and family-oriented.”

For more information, visit www.sep-global.com or www.abalive.com.