Having not been able to find a new arena in Milton Keynes, it has been revealed the MK Lions will be moving to London and re-branding for the coming season.
Vincent Macauley’s side will now be known as the London Lions, and be based at Crystal Palace for the 2012/13 season with the intention of permanently moving to the Olympic handball arena (the Copper Box) for the 2013/14 season.
Milton Keynes Citizen reports:
“Lions chief executive Vince Macaulay said he was devastated by having to leave Milton Keynes after 15 years because he could not find a place for the club to play.
However, with a move to the stunning 6,000 capacity Copper Box – which has been the home of the Olympic handball competition – now confirmed, Lions can finally look forward to an optimistic future.
Lions’ days in Milton Keynes were seemingly numbered after the club was forced to leave Bletchley Leisure Centre, with the hope of one day playing in the arena next to stadium:mk.
Short spells playing at Middleton Hall and a converted warehouse in Winterhill only proved to be a temporary fix, and with the arena now no longer an option, and no other permanent base in the city available, Macaulay has been left with no other choice but to seek a home elsewhere.
With the Olympics still ongoing and the new BBL season just over six weeks away, Lions will not be able to move into the Copper Box until next year.
That move will come in time for the start of the 2013/14 BBL season, so in the meantime Lions will play their home games – the first against league champions Newcastle Eagles on September 23 – at the Crystal Palace National Indoor Arena in south London.”
The announcement means that London will now have two professional teams next season, after the East London Royals franchise was approved in June.
Thoughts?
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Will they be branded as London Lions?
“Vincent Macauley’s side will now be known as the London Lions” It said so in the article man.
Hmm…not sure London can support two BBL teams. And I feel really bad for the MK fans who’ve lost their team. I thought the Copper Box was going to be incredibly expensive – how will the Lions be able to afford this?
Hope MK realise the basketball history of Crystal Palace and what they are inheriting – if only for one sason.!!!!!!!!!
May I agree with the previous comment?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once the team moves into the Copper Box in the 2013/14 season the number of teams in East London will be 3… East London Royals, London Lions and London Leopards… I know they want London to be a basketball hotspot but 3 teams! all in the East of London is a bit OTT….. Especially considering teams like Nassa want to make a top level mens team…. Also worth noting is that the Copper Box and SportHouse are 6.4 miles appart which means fans will have to choose …. I see both struggling to fill their arenas. Surely another town is more worthy of a team…
Leopards play in Brentwood, Essex. They’re on the other side of the M25 and a good 13 miles/20km away from Stratford. Totally different catchment area localities (urban vs. Suburban)
London can definitely support more than one side (it’s bigger than Scotland and NI combined), but it would be better with one being in either South or West/NW London imo. That being said the Lions will find it far easier to bring people from other parts of the capital, someone from Camden, Islington or Southwark can get to Stratford in around 30mins or under. The Leopards and Royals are going to be limited to outer East London and Essex for support.
Jokerman I agree that London can support 2/3 even 4 sides in the long run… but the fact that the Copper Box and SportHouse are 6.4 miles appart is a bit too close, unfortunatly that also shows that when we do finally get the facilities built in this country they are too close, if a large sports arena was built in West London I am sure a team would fit perfectly there as well.
Its terrible news for MK. But, Leopards play in deepest Essex, not much of a crossover there. Olympic Park is a lot more accessible than Barking for people from the rest of London too. I think it’ll be as good as any other situation and a permanent (hopefully) basketball use in the Copper Box is great news. Would be an ideal place to hold GB games too (but not exclusively, its vital those are spread round the country, including Scotland).
Its not the first time Vince has pulled the plug and shipped out. Hemel will be a major
force in 5 years time and looking for a place in the top league, they already pull crowds of
nearly 1000 in division 2.
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