River Lions coming to TSN; Niagara hosts School Day Game
Another season, another turning point for the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
It was announced last week that TSN and TSN+ will be offering live coverage of select CEBL games during the year, including the championship weekend. The broadcast schedule starts with the Wednesday, May 24 game between the 2022 CEBL champion Brampton Honey Badgers and the Ottawa BlackJacks.
The Niagara River Lions will be featured twice on the broadcasts, including a Tuesday, May 30 road game in Calgary and a Tuesday, June 13 home game versus Montreal.
It is great news for the River Lions.
“We are extremely excited about the news because this is the first time that the River Lions will play in a nationally televised game at the Meridian Centre in front of the best fans in the CEBL,” said Michelle Biskup, the River Lions’ vice President, operations. “With TSN as the national broadcast partner, we know that it will not only help the growth of the CEBL, but also the game of basketball across Canada.”
It is a pivotal moment in the league’s five-year history.
“This is a significant and important announcement for all teams across our league,” she said. “By having a CEBL Game of the Week shown on Canada’s leading sports network, it will mean that even more eyes will be on our product and brand which will help bring awareness to our rapidly growing league.”
Plans are already underway for when Niagara hosts TSN.
“From now until the start of the season, we will be working towards filling the Meridian Centre for all games, but specifically the June 13 date so that we can show the rest of Canada what River Lions basketball is all about, while showcasing just how supportive and loyal our Niagara fans are,” Biskup said.
SCHOOL DAY GAME
In other recent River Lions news, the team announced it would be staging a School Day Game on Friday, June 23 at 11 a.m. against the Calgary Surge. The team last hosted a school day game in 2018. It was watched by thousands of students from across Niagara.
There will be many activities involved with the game, including a guest appearance by Saidat who will be the in-game host. Saidat is an award-winning Canadian community leader, motivational speaker, and artistic director.
“We are thrilled to include a school day game on our home schedule for the 2023 season,” Biskup said. “We are grateful for the collaboration between the District School Board of Niagara, Switzer Carty Transportation and the Meridian Centre to create a memorable experience for all. The excitement and energy of the students will make this one of the most electric game-day atmospheres this season.”
Niagara is asking local businesses to support the game by purchasing tickets for students who may not otherwise be able to attend due to financial constraints. Season ticket holders have the option to opt in to attend this game if they choose to, or they can use the credit towards playoff tickets in the event that the River Lions host a post season game.
For more information on the game, contact Biskup at 289-273-5905 or mbiskup@riverlions.ca.
