East Scotland Warriors

Basketball team in Edinburgh, Scotland

East Scotland Warriors

League	British Basketball League
Location	Edinburgh, Scotland
Ownership	Donald Sampley

East Scotland Warriors was a proposed British professional basketball team to be based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and members of the British Basketball League. Established in 2013, the team were to commence play in the 2015–16 season, using Meadowbank Arena as its home venue.^[1] Following an agreement between the BBL and the Warriors ownership that the franchise would defer their entry into the League due to concerns over its financial backing; the team later did not materialise and withdrew its entry.

Franchise history

A bid to launch a British Basketball League franchise in Edinburgh was first rumoured by the media in early 2011.^[2] Donald Sampley, an American businessman based in St. Louis, Missouri, was reported as the driving force behind the bid. A former player for amateur Scottish Basketball League team Troon Tornadoes, Sampley outlined his plans to local media in April 2011.^[3] Initial reports suggested that the franchise would use the Meadowbank Arena - former home of the Edinburgh Rocks - as its home venue and were aiming for a launch in time for the 2013–14 season.^[4]

In January 2013, it was reported that an official application had been made to join the BBL, along with bids from Bristol, Reading and York.^[5] On 8 July 2013, it was announced that the bid was successful and that Edinburgh's new team would start play in the 2014–15 season, becoming the League's 15th member.^[6] The team name was revealed as the East Scotland Warriors which, according to Sampley, was chosen so the new franchise could reach "a much wider area than just the Capital and will go right up to include Aberdeen."^[7]

It was announced on 8 May 2014 that, following an agreement between the BBL and the Warriors ownership, the franchise deferred and eventually withdrew it's entry due to major concerns over its financial backing.^[8]^[9]

References

^ "Pro Basketball is returning to Edinburgh". Edinburgh Evening News. 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
^ Mark Woods (2011). "Essex Pondering capital switch". MVP 24-7. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
^ "Jumping at chance to bounce sport back to Capital". The Scotsman. 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
^ Sandy Sutherland (2011). "American has high hoops for Edinburgh". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
^ Mark Woods (2013). "Edinburgh, others seek BBL spots". MVP 24-7. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
^ Mark Woods (2013). "Warriors to be Edinburgh's team". MVP 24-7. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
^ "Pro Basketball is returning to Edinburgh". Edinburgh Evening News. 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
^ Mark Woods (2014). "Surrey to strengthen, Warriors out". MVP 24-7. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
^ Paul Nilson (2014). "Bristol Academy Flyers ready to soar in BBL". EuroBasket.com. Retrieved 8 May 2014.