Sea Bears shoot to host CEBL 2025 championship with $1M backing from Manitoba government

The WinnipegSea Bears haven't even finishedtheir inaugural season and they've already got their eyes on theCanadian Elite Basketball League's biggest prize in a couple different ways.

The team, which has set multiple CEBL attendance records, is beginning its chase for the championship trophy.

It locked up second place in the league's Western Conference with a 12-8 record and will tip-off its first-ever playoff game at homeon Friday.

But the Sea Bears don'tjust want to hoist the league title the organization wants to host it, too.

The team andprovincial governmentannounced a bid Thursday to bring the CEBL championship weekend to Winnipeg in 2025.

The province is providing $1 million for required facility upgrades and needed resources to strengthen the bid.

Those upgrades may include flooring for a new court, but that and any other expenses will only be determined should the Sea Bears secure the hosting bid, a team spokesperson said in an email.

As for the resources, that refers to the added staff required to host the big event.

"Basketball is among the fastest growing sports in Canada, if not the world,"Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Obby Khan said at the announcement at Canada Life Centre, the Sea Bears' home court.

Andthe Sea Bears are showing that Winnipeg is a basketball town, he added.

The Sea Bears already own the records for the six largest crowds in CEBL history.Before theyentered the league, the CEBL record was 4,404, set by the Vancouver Bandits in 2022.

The Sea Bears topped thatintheir season opener on May 27 with 7,328 fans and peaked with 8,230 at their final regular season game onJuly 29.

The league's average attendance for the season is2,843.

"We are so grateful for a lot of things about how the Sea Bears have launched. Because of public demand, we've had to add extra seats for our playoff game on Friday night," said team ownerDavid Asper.

The Sea Bears' total home attendance this season so far is54,846. The next highest is the Edmonton Stingers with 34,736.

The CEBL's annualchampionship weekendfeaturesa five-day festival, annual awards, a concert featuringlocal and Canadian artists, a youth basketball tournament, community clinics and a championship after party.

The weekend also showcases the league's top four teamscompeting for the trophy. This year it takes place in Langley, B.C.

The defending champs are the Hamilton Honey Badgers, who relocated toBrampton in 2023.

The CEBLwas founded in 2017 and began play in2019with six teams, with more added through expansion in 2021. Winnipeg's addition in 2023 brought the league total to 10, making it the largest professional sports league based entirely in Canada surpassing thenine-team Canadian Football League.

The two leagues are linked in another way, as well. The CEBLcommissioner is former CFLreceiverMike Morreale, who played forToronto and Hamilton.