Introducting the CEBL, Sea Bears and guests at the media launch. L-R: Team President, Jason Smith; Team Owner, David Asper; Premier of Manitoba, Hon. Heather Stefanson; Elder Geraldine, Bear Clan; CEBL Commissioner and Co-Founder, Mike Mor, City of Winnipeg Mayor, Scott Gillingham and MLA Andrew Smith.
Professional basketball is coming back to Winnipeg in 2023 with the newest expansion team to join the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).
Commissioner and Co-Founder of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, Mike Morreale and Sea Bears team owner, David Asper made the announcement at Canada Life Centre earlier this week.
The official team colour of the Sea Bears are teal, white and black. They will become the first CEBL club to play in a National Hockey League arena. Located in downtown Winnipeg, Canada Life Centre is home to the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.
The club will make its home base at the Sport Manitoba facility, where the team will enjoy continuity of care by utilizing the practice, training, recovery and meeting spaces and services, as well as their offices and business operations.
Deposits on tickets for the inaugural 2023 season are being accepted now at www.seabears.ca, where fans can also find the first line of team merchandise and get more information about Winnipeg’s professional basketball team. The team’s social handle @wpgseabears may be followed on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
The CEBL features 10 teams in six provinces, making it the largest pro sports league in Canada. The CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U Sports. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season runs May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
Photo credit: Ryan Reyes
