TELUS BANDITS ATHLETIC CENTRE TO OPEN AS THE FIRST CEBL ACADEMY IN EARLY 2021
Bandits Staff • December 29, 2020
ABBOTSFORD, B.C., December 29, 2020 – The Fraser Valley Bandits
revealed Tuesday details of the launch and name of the first Canadian Elite Basketball League
(CEBL) Academy, which will be called the TELUS
Bandits Athletic Centre.
Located in the heart of Abbotsford at West Oaks Mall on South Fraser Way, the facility is expected to open in early 2021. The space is designed to encourage participation and athletic development across a variety of sports and will feature five sport zones that will be open for use to youth and adult sport groups from across the Fraser Valley.
The five sport zones are as follows in alphabetical order:
- The Badesha & Associates Zone will have multiple basketball hoops situated around a basketball half-court that is enclosed by netting and allows for user groups to practice, play and train
- The Builders Zone is a fitness space designed for strength and conditioning with equipment for weightlifting and other exercises
- The Panago Zone will consist of four walls and a ceiling of netting to allow for baseball and softball groups to practice pitching, batting and fielding
- The RE/MAX Little Oak Realty Zone will feature multiple basketball hoops that encompass a basketball half-court within a netted area and will be used for drills, instruction and training
- The Storage for Your Life Zone will have a professional sized volleyball court for users of all ages to enjoy an exciting indoor volleyball experience
The Bandits Athletic Centre will also showcase the Fraser Valley Bandits’ retail store, which will function as the club’s primary retail space for fans to purchase team merchandise, such as hats, jerseys, hoodies, and more. Fans will still have the opportunity to purchase these items through the Bandits’ online store
and also on game days at Abbotsford Centre.
Sport zones are available for hourly and monthly rentals. Interested groups are encouraged to contact athleticcentre@thebandits.ca
to inquire regarding availability.
“At TELUS it is part of our mandate to support and connect the community. Sports and recreation are a vehicle for uniting youth and adults under the banner of athletics and by sponsoring the TELUS Bandits Athletic Centre, we hope that we can ensure that athletes and users of the space have access to a multi-sport facility that is inclusive, welcoming and that caters to athletes of all ages and skill levels,” said Ravi Sidhu, senior regional marketing manager at TELUS.
“The Bandits are grateful for the opportunity to work with TELUS and the CEBL head office to launch a facility that will give youth and adults a safe place to train and play. The Abbotsford and Fraser Valley communities have been extremely supportive of this endeavour and we look forward to welcoming athletes and fans to our multi-sport facility in 2021,” said Bandits vice president Dylan Kular.
The Fraser Valley Bandits are one of seven teams located across four provinces in the CEBL. The CEBL is preparing for its third season in 2021 following the success of this past year's Summer Series in St. Catharines, Ont., which saw millions of viewers across Canada and around the world tune in starting July 25 to watch 26 games played over 15 days in a single-site league competition. The CEBL became the first professional sports league in Canada to return to play after the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in mid-March shut down sports across the country.
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season typically runs from May through August. More information is available at www.cebl.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andrew Savory, Director of Operations, (604) 217-6213, asavory@thebandits.ca
About the Fraser Valley Bandits:
The Fraser Valley Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the club is proud to call Abbotsford Centre home. The Bandits offer a riveting entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue. PerfectLens, a Vancouver-based contact lens supplier, is the official presenting partner of the Bandits’ 2021 season. Head to thebandits.ca for more information.
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