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Will Birmingham play in the Southern Basketball Association?

July 5, 2018
A proposed basketball league named the Southern Basketball Association is announced by league commissioner Randy R. Lyons.

The SBA plans to begin play with eight teams located in southern cities. Team names are believed to be Atlanta Traffic, Birmingham Magicians, Chattanooga Coal Miners, Columbus Rafters, Huntsville Boosters, Montgomery Capitals, Nashville Bobcats, and Tennessee Valley Riverboats. The Tennessee Valley team will be based in Knoxville.

The league already has a schedule in place and the first games will take place in May 2020.

Each team will play 14 home games and hopes to compete in arenas with a capacity of at least 5,000. Games are scheduled on Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:00 pm.

No details on team ownerships were given, but the league's website asks for potential owners and/or general managers to submit an application.

	Southern Basketball Association founder Randy R. Lyons

In 2005-06 the city had a team named the Birmingham Magicians in the American Basketball Association. If the two Magicians teams have any ties to each other, there is no indication at this point.

The league's website claims that the Birmingham Magicians will play in Bill Harris Arena, which is part of the Birmingham Crossplex.

February 26, 2019
Lyons, a local businessman, provides more information on the SBA.

The plans for starting up in 2020 are still in place, despite the recent news that an NBA G League team has been announced for Birmingham.

Initially, each team will be owned by the league. A prospective team owner will act as the general manager for a year, running the team according to rules and limits set by the league. If the relationship is successful, the general manager can then purchase the franchise from the league. This method will help train the owners to run their franchises in a similar fashion to insure the greatest success.

Any league-owned teams will benefit from revenue sharing. Teams with owners will depend on the ownership group to remain profitable.

Any future expansion will result in the same process, where the league owns the team the first year and will then be sold to the acting general manager.

Lyons said the SBA will focus on a game experience the whole family can enjoy.

	xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
Atlanta Traffic		Birmingham Magicians		Chattanooga Coal Miners		Columbus Rafters		Huntsville Boosters
Montgomery Capitals		Nashville Bobcats		Tennessee Valley Riverboats

March 12, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus global pandemic, the Southern Basketball Association announces they have indefinitely suspended their inaugural 2020 season.

The league's statement said:

Due to the uncertainty with the Coronavirus, the inaugural season in 2020 has been suspended indefinitely. Season ticket and Founders Club member’s refunds have been processed.

Contact Gene Crowley
Last update: March 10, 2024