Bristol Joins British Basketball League

Bristol will have a top-flight British basketball team from 2014, after an agreement was signed between Bristol Sport Ltd (BSL) and SGS College’s Bristol Academy Flyers Basketball Club.

The Bristol Flyers will compete as a brand new basketball franchise in the British Basketball League (BBL) competitions from the 2014/15 campaign onwards.

Basketball has more than 450 million players taking part globally and is one of the fastest growing participation sports in the UK, with more than 320,000 people now playing every month. 

The BBL is currently entering its 27th campaign, but will be expanding over the next two years. With Bristol’s arrival in the competition from 2014, the BBL will now cover all of the UK’s major cities.

Bristol Sport chairman Martin Griffiths said: ‘This is a really exciting opportunity for sport in Bristol, and for basketball in particular. We want to see everyone in Bristol given the best possible chance to enjoy what sport brings, including the chance to support local teams on the national stage, or even to compete at the elite level.

‘The Flyers have already developed one of the best youth schemes and academy pathways in the country, and having performed so successfully in recent years at the top of the semi-professional leagues, it is right and proper they should be part of the UK’s premier professional basketball league.’

Andy Webb, BBL chief operating officer, commented: ‘We are delighted to welcome the Bristol Flyers to the BBL. They are a perfect fit to extend our reach within the UK and, with the support of Bristol Sport, we believe all the building blocks are in place for a hugely successful franchise.’

BSL will manage the Flyers’ participation in the BBL alongside its existing support for Bristol City FC in the Football League – who also sponsor Bristol Academy Women’s FC in the Super League – Bristol Rugby in the RFU Championship and Dino Zamporelli in GP3.