Lions are made homeless
Keep professional basketball in Milton Keynes
For the second time in as many years, Milton Keynes is facing the prospect of life without a professional basketball club after MK Lions' deal to play home matches at thecentre:mk dramatically fell through, the Citizen can reveal.
The club had agreed to stage games at Middleton Hall for a second season, but the shopping centre's decision to lay a carpet and host other events on the site means that hosting British Basketball League games there is now 'logistically impossible' according to Lions chief executive Vince Macaulay.
The news comes in the same week that this year's BBL fixtures have been released - with the season due to start in September - and could mean Lions are left with as little as two weeks to find a new home in Milton Keynes, or be forced to leave to secure the club's long term future.
Macaulay's side played the majority of last year's home games at Middleton Hall after their proposed new home at arena:mk was hit with further delays and Bletchley Leisure Centre became unavailable.
Macaulay revealed that he received a number of offers to leave the city then, but his preferred option was always to remain in Milton Keynes - Lions' home of the last 12 years.
However, with the club's future now once again under threat - and with the arena next to stadium:mk still just an empty shell - Macaulay says he may be left with no other option but to move on to pastures new.
BBL rules mean Lions have until the end of August to confirm where they will fulfil their home fixtures - and with offers already on the table for the club to explore moves to Birmingham, Cardiff and Greenwich, Macaulay says a move isn't out of the question, but it remains a last resort.
He said: "It is a drain on resources having to keep searching for a home - we are grateful to thecentre:mk for hosting us last year - but now we are nomads again. We're close to securing a long term television deal with Sky TV and the game has simply exploded in the city. But with nowhere to play I'm not sure what the future holds.
"Lions fans should take heart - we have faced tremendous difficulties over the years with regards to facilities and we have always found a way through, I will move heaven and earth to make sure we can stay in the city."
A spokesman for thecentre:mk told the Citizen: "We were delighted to have Lions here last season. After extensive consultations we were informed they would not be back this year. We wish the club success in the future."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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