Fledgling IBL loses 2 teams

Victoria Sun

Thursday, Nov. 16, 2000 | 10:37 a.m.

First there was the failed expansion in Flint, Mich.

And then on Wednesday, the International Basketball League experienced another setback when it announced the league will have only six teams, down from the original eight that it started with last season.

The IBL's second season begins Dec. 8 with teams remaining in Las Vegas, Cincinnati, New Mexico, Richmond, St. Louis and Trenton, N.J.

Because the league could not find local ownership for the teams in San Diego and Baltimore, it decided not to keep them in the league. Last year, the IBL operated those two teams and the Las Vegas Bandits while it searched for local ownership.

Former UNLV player and local businessman Jackie Robinson purchased the Bandits in March.

"I think you need to find a local businessman, woman or group that have had success in the community to own a franchise," Bandits CEO Brad Rothermel said. "You need people committed to making it work because they are part of the business community in that community so people know the team is under stable ownership.

"With our league, people need to know that they can call a team's office on Monday and call back the next day and know that it is still operating."

In another announcement, the IBL shortened its season from 64 games to 52 this year.

Though losing two teams will be construed as being detrimental to the well-being of the league, Rothermel said, "I think if you look at what did occur, I don't think it suggests the league is in trouble.

"You can look at it as there is one more team this year that isn't operated by the league.

"There were three of eight teams that were last year. Now all six teams are independently operated by local owners. Some people might see that as growth rather than lack of growth."

The IBL had announced that the league was adding a team in Flint, Mich., this season, but it never materialized because of financial problems and a lack of a venue for the new team that was supposed to be nicknamed the Stones.

Rothermel estimates it costs $250,000 to purchase the franchise rights for a team in the IBL, though each team is priced differently.

He is hopeful the IBL will expand and possibly combine with either the Continental Basketball Association or the start-up American Basketball Association in the future.

"I think it will happen voluntarily or by virtue of attrition," he said.