Maine Attraction

by Jeff Clark on Feb 3, 2008 10:31 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

Two of the top movers and shakers of the NBA's D-League were in Portland, Maine, Thursday and got the red lobster treatment from the city's top officials, who hope to land a D-League franchise. The proposed team is being financed by Bill Ryan (of TD Banknorth fame) and his son, and hopes to be up and running for the 2009-10 season, with a link to the Celtics. Still to be determined is where the team will play, but the group's application has been in for months and all signs look promising. The NBA is looking to get some D-League franchises in the East for its Eastern teams, which would certainly help the Celtics, whose current D-League affiliate is in neighboring Orem, Utah. Other possibilities in the East for D-League teams include Harlem, Youngstown (Ohio), Trenton, and possibly a site outside Toronto for the Raptors. The Portland group, which also has K.C. Jones as a consultant, hopes to get the official imprimatur this spring.

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If the NBA ever wants a true minor league system, getting teams established in eastern markets is necessary. I love the idea of a team in Portland, and a lot of the other cities named make sense, as well.

by Roy_Hobbs on Feb 3, 2008 11:41 AM EST reply actions

They should locate the D league team in Providence, RI. The AHL minor league hockey team, the Providence Bruins, has been a fixture here for over a decade, and hos had a lot of fan support, despite a major league hockey team an hour’s drive north.

by TripleOT on Feb 3, 2008 6:49 PM EST reply actions

I vote for Manchester NH. We have AHL hockey, arena football and minor league baseball. We could use basketball to round it out. Plus The Celtics have already played the Verizon Wireless Arena a few times so we know it can handle the games.

by warriorspirit on Feb 4, 2008 12:26 AM EST reply actions