There are many hurdles to clear when finalizing a schedule for an eight-team league.
The Maritime Women’s Basketball Association certainly understands those challenges.
The league is preparing for its fifth opening weekend May 2 to 3 across numerous venues and it’s always best to check this website under Schedule for the latest news and updates although most of the season is in concrete.
‘There is so much competition for venues, solid times through the week and particularly for weekend games that it can be challenging,’ said MWBA commissioner, Jen Lloyd, of Dartmouth, NS. ‘You’re not just talking basketball games renting various gymnasiums. There are volleyball tournaments, school tournaments, public events and more.’
The MWBA released its schedule internally in the late fall, allowing teams to begin the process of booking facilities and allowing potential players to see which dates would need commitments for the eight-team high-end amateur league.
There are some snags that are unexpected such as gym floor renovations that can shut a facility down for weeks on end.
As the MWBA prepares to open next weekend, the schedule is 95 per cent ready with some times to be added along with finalizing a venue for one team.
‘Our fans always want to have notice and we’re on top of it as best we can outside of just waiting for some final time details,’ said Lloyd. ‘April is always such a hectic month. So much MWBA work is done from the fall through March in preparation and then the season is upon us.’
One key element the MWBA has followed is to keep the venues relatively small.
There are certain games where the stage is a little larger such as the PROLINE Legacy Cup Final Four championship which has used large venues such as Saint Mary’s University and Dalhousie University in Halifax, TD Station in Saint John and Richard J. Currie Center in Fredericton.
The Currie Center will be the site of this year’s championship for the second year in a row, June 20-21.
Miramichi HerIcanes use Miramichi Valley High School for its home dates. Fredericton Freeze calls Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium home while the Moncton Mystics use Crandall University. Port City Fog of Saint John will use University of New Brunswick at Saint John, St. Malachy’s Memorial High School in uptown Saint John and Rothesay High School for its home dates.
In Nova Scotia, Lake City 56ers of Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Preston use Cole Harbour High School and Joseph Zatzman Sports Centre, Truro Tidal Queens will use Dalhousie Agricultural College in the town and Truro Junior High. Halifax Hornets’ nest is Mount St. Vincent University and the Halifax Thunder is using Halifax Grammar School for its home for the season as its regular floor at Saint Mary’s is being re-finished.
‘In an ideal world, all eight of our teams are prime tenants are consistent facilities, but that’s not easy,’ said Lloyd. ‘We know teams like Fredericton, Moncton, the Hornets and Lake City have consistent homes, but our fans are also keen on finding us and supporting our games. It always works out.’
League action will open May 2.
It should also be noted teams like Fredericton and Port City are preparing for its games to be livestreamed through AO Live Pay Per View.
Announcements are expected next week.
– MWBA teams have become accustomed to changing venues through their first four seasons. (DW Photo)
