Basketball is coming back to Brooklyn… again?
Most of you probably think of Julius Erving palming a tricolored basketball when you think of the ABA. That American Basketball Association disbanded in 1976, after the New York Nets won its last title and four teams merged with the NBA.
But a new ABA with the same name popped up in 1999, and after 15 years & 90 teams across four countries, they’re bringing a team to Brooklyn:
The American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalive.com today announced the Brooklyn SkyRockets will begin play in November. “We are absolutely thrilled to be coming back to Brooklyn,” stated ABA CEO Joe Newman. “We really thought we would have a team there this season, but it just didn’t work out. In Dylan Gioia, we have a great young owner with a terrific background in sports management, economics and marketing. He should have no problem being very successful there.”
An avid basketball fan, Dylan was born and raised in Brooklyn and has degrees in Sports Management and Business Economics from SUNY Cortland. He has worked with the Walt Disney World Resort, cityHUNT Team Building and manages the family business, Key Advertising.
“I will be personally running the Brooklyn Skyrockets,” added Gioia. “The name was chosen to celebrate the rich aviation history of Floyd Bennett Field, where home games will be played. Two ABA programs that are of great interest to us are Fast Break for Reading that helps with children’s literacy – and Proud to Serve America, that honors our veterans, police, firefighters and teachers. We are very excited.”
According to the official Brooklyn SkyRockets website, their games will broadcast on ESPN3 in November next season, and official tryouts are in less than two weeks. You can go to the open tryouts in Brooklyn on June 22nd, June 28th, and July 19th. Tryouts cost $30 in advance, or $45 at the door, via this poster from their website:
I’m just surprised Julius Erving isn’t their official logo.
