River Lions’ School Day Game returns in 2025
The Niagara River Lions will host their third straight School Day Game in 2025.
The Niagara River Lions wildly popular School Day Game is returning in 2025.
The Canadian Elite Basketball League team will hold the game Friday, June 20 at 11 a.m. at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.
The opponent for the defending CEBL champions will be announced when the league releases its schedule.
It will be the third straight year that the team has hosted the game that brings more than 3,500 screaming kids into the Meridian Centre from across Niagara. For many, it will be their first exposure to CEBL basketball. The game features plenty of activities and performances, providing numerous opportunities for students to get involved and engaged with the game day experience.
“Hosting a school day game has been an incredible success for our organization. The energy in the arena is unmatched and seeing thousands of students engaged, inspired, and cheering together make it a truly unforgettable experience,” River Lions president Michelle Biskup said. “It’s not just about basketball. It’s about creating a positive impact in the community and giving these young fans a day to remember. This event proves the power of sports to bring people together and inspire the next generation.”
The River Lions are looking for local businesses to support the game through its Adopt a School program. The program allows students who may otherwise be unable to attend due to financial constraints with the opportunity to experience a professional basketball game with their friends and classmates.
Last season’s game set a record with more than 60 buses transporting 3,500 kids from 32 schools to the Meridian Centre.
The event is also a big hit with the River Lions’ players and coaches.
“That was awesome. The energy was crazy and you couldn’t even hear yourself think in there,” said Niagara captain Antonio Davis Jr., after last season’s School Day Game. “There’s no energy like youth energy. They are so young and so excited to be here and we really fed off of that. Our crowd is usually loud but that was another level right there.”
He agreed the noise was deafening.
“The pitch was so high. When they asked at halftime which schools were there, that was one of the loudest buildings I have heard in a while. I thought the glass was going to shatter.”
Niagara head coach Victor Raso was also astounded by the noise in the building.
“My head is still ringing. I coached in one of these six years ago in NBL days but that was insane. It was end of school year type of enjoyment,” he said. “There was energy to be had out there and it was crazy. I couldn’t talk to the guys and I was screaming as loud as I possibly could.”
For ticketing information, please contact Mitchell Lyons at 289-273-5905 or mlyons@riverlions.ca.
