NexxNow has made terrific strides since February to get Buffalo a basketball team. In February, they had purchased the franchise but were looking for a venue. Now, they have a venue and a name. The Dragons will be playing at the ECC downtown campus in the Premiere Basketball League (PBL).
According to Paul Riley, President and CEO of NexxNow, the company’s business plan is to deliver US Sports content to China. “Our intent with the Dragons is to broadcast the Dragons’ games back to China. We plan to have a roster of 5-6 national players from China. Hence the name “Dragons,” as it is inspired by our China initiative,” says Riley.
The team will open the doors to new sportsteam in the city and put Buffalo on the international map as well as serving to facilitate a local rivalry. A PBL team exists in nearby Rochester, who actually won the championship last year in front of 10,000 fans. The season doesn’t start till January 2009 and runs till May 2009.
Jean-Paul Afif is the new Dragons coach and general manager. Afif played in the NBA, the NBA-D League, and had a long overseas career. In February of this year he was named ABA Western All-Star Coach of the Year.
The economic impact the new basketball team has in Buffalo remains to be seen but should be significant. NexxNow is currently based out of East Aurora, but Riley says, “We may move to a new office in the area in the next few months.”
Check out www.buffalodragons.com to stay up-to-date on the latest team developments. You can also check out NexxNow’s website at www.nexxnow.com to learn more about the company and its goals.
{Edited at the request of NexxNow}