Bandits and Preston Chevrolet Extend Partnership for the 2025 & 2026 CEBL Season

Bandits Staff • February 4, 2025

The Vancouver Bandits are thrilled to announce that Preston Chevrolet, one of British Columbia’s largest General Motors dealerships, has extended its dedication to professional basketball by committing to a two-year community and marketing partnership with the Bandits for the 2025 and 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) seasons. This marks a continuation of an impactful partnership that began in 2022, when the Vancouver Bandits first debuted at the Langley Events Centre (LEC).


The partnership’s centerpiece is Preston Chevrolet’s commitment to enhancing the Bandits’ game-day experience at the Langley Events Centre, while also supporting community outreach initiatives across British Columbia. Notably, Preston Chevrolet will now co-present the Bandits School Tour, a flagship program of the Bandits Community Foundation. This impactful initiative sends Bandits Head Coach and General Manager Kyle Julius to high schools across the province, where he works with basketball programs to help student-athletes and coaches improve their skills and knowledge of the game. To date, Coach Julius has visited 64 schools during the 2024-25 school year, delivering meaningful programming that promotes basketball and personal development.


A major highlight of this partnership is Preston Chevrolet’s provision of a Hummer EV for Coach Julius’ travel across the province as part of the Bandits School Tour. This support enables the Bandits to expand their reach and inspire communities in even the most remote areas of British Columbia.


Since 2022, Preston Chevrolet has proudly supported the Community Champion program, which has given hundreds of at-risk youth the opportunity to experience Vancouver Bandits basketball in the Preston Players’ Lounge at Langley Events Centre. The program exemplifies Preston Chevrolet’s commitment to providing accessible opportunities for youth who may not otherwise experience the thrill of professional basketball.


“From the very start we could tell The Vancouver Bandits organization and Team Preston share many corporate cultural values. The value of sport and in particular the team sport experience contribute greatly in many ways to the positive development of young people. Over time, their dedication to these efforts is most evident and we are proud to support it.” said Peter Heppner of Preston Chevrolet.


Preston Chevrolet, a family-owned and operated business in Langley since 1965, continues to uphold its tradition of giving back to the communities it serves. Since purchasing the dealership in 2006, Peter Heppner and his son Leigh Heppner have carried on this legacy with a strong commitment to local partnerships and programs that benefit youth and families.



“The moment we committed to Langley Events Centre in 2022, we were introduced to Peter Heppner and Preston Chevrolet’s unwavering dedication to supporting the community. For Peter and his team, this partnership has always been about more than marketing – it’s about creating opportunities that make a real difference in the lives of youth and families,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “Thanks to Peter, Leigh, and the entire Preston Chevrolet team, we’ve been able to build impactful programming that strengthens our community and connects people through basketball. We are excited to continue this incredible partnership for the next two years.”

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By Bandits Staff • September 1, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits have partnered with the Vancouver Park Board, Bandits Community Foundation and Little Legends Foundation to unveil a newly renovated outdoor basketball court at Grays Park in South Vancouver. Part of the Bandits Community Foundation’s Court Projects initiative, the team officially unveiled the refurbished court on Saturday (August 30). The grand opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a free youth basketball clinic led by local coaches. Attendees also enjoyed a complimentary BBQ lunch, free haircuts and massages, and free backpacks and school supplies distributed for local youth. “The Bandits Community Foundation’s Court Projects initiative was designed to build and enhance public outdoor courts,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “The love for the game grows in spaces like Grays Park. This project would not have been possible without the support of our community partners. We will continue to enhance outdoor public courts, make them more inviting, and create stronger communities through basketball.” “Over the past few years, we have been trying to build one of the nicest courts here in South Vancouver for the community,” said community leader Spensir Sangara. “We recognized that Grays Park was one of the few neighbourhood parks without a quality basketball court for the community. Thank you to our businesses and donors who came together to make our vision a reality. This court is filled with a rich basketball culture and this is a legendary day for our community.” “When the Vancouver Bandits approached the Vancouver Park Board with the idea to upgrade this park, it seemed like the right fit and partner to help renew an important asset in a community where basketball plays such an important role,” said Vancouver Park Board Director of Business Services John Brodie. “Thank you to the Bandits and our partners for their generous contributions, and for being examples of what having a strong, community-oriented mission looks like.” The court refurbishment at Grays Park, located at 4850 St. Catherines Street in Vancouver, includes upgrades to the basketball hoops, playing area resurfacing and seating areas. Grays Park was identified as one of Vancouver’s most active outdoor basketball spaces, and community feedback strongly supported the refurbishment. Established in October 2023, the goal of Court Projects is to enhance outdoor basketball courts across British Columbia, creating productive and safe spaces for individuals to play while enriching local basketball at the community level. To date, this partnered team effort has featured the construction and installation of six brand new outdoor basketball courts and upgrading hundreds of basketball rims in communities across BC.​​

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