Kelowna hosting neutral-site CEBL basketball game in June

Pro basketball in Kelowna

UPDATE 1:50 p.m.

The summer of sports in Kelowna has a new player, the Vancouver Bandits and the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

The Bandits join a long list of world class sporting events in the city this year including the Memorial Cup, two BC Lions games and the BC Summer Games.

The HOOPFEST weekend will add to the economic boon Kelowna is expected to realize from these events, which could reach $80 million or more.

It could also show Kelowna’s appetite for a CEBL franchise.

“Is there interest in Kelowna for a franchise? Definitely from a CEBL perspective,” Kular told Castanet News.

“When that moment will be, we’ll find out. We’ll see if interested organizations reach out and connect with the CEBL.

“I know the City of Kelowna would love to have a franchise and many municipalities would love to have a franchise as well.

“I believe Kelowna is ready. When the right group approaches then we’ll see what happens.”

The Bandits are familiar with Kelowna with former KSS Owls Grant Shepard and Mason Boucier suiting up for the team in previous seasons.

“There is a deep basketball history here. When the BC Lions announced their games here and with the Memorial Cup, we knew Kelowna would be ready for a moment like this.”

Tickets for the June 6 game against the Saskatchewan franchise at Prospera Place went on sale today.

Tickets range from $25 to $225 for courtside.

---

ORIGINAL: NOON

A professional basketball game is coming to Kelowna in June.

The City of Kelowna and Vancouver Bandits announced Tuesday that a neutral-site game between the Bandits and Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club will take place on June. 6 at 6 p.m. at Prospera Place.

The clubs are a part of the Canadian Elite Baskebtall League (CEBL), which is Canada's professional basketball league with 10 teams from across the country.

In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian, the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country.

Saskatchewan, previously named the Rattlers, will be announcing their rebranded identity on Wednesday.

The CEBL matchup will serve as the marquee event of Kelowna HOOPFEST, a new basketball festival presented in partnership with the City of Kelowna, designed to celebrate basketball at every level.

HOOPFEST will feature the CEBL game, along with a youth five-on-five tournament from GW Hoops, a coaching clinic, and additional programming to be announced.

“This is a historic moment for our club and for professional basketball in B.C.,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular.

"We are bringing the same incredible energy our Bandits fans get at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. Fans can expect fast-paced, high-energy basketball paired with an electric game-day atmosphere, and a fan-first experience that will bring communities together inside and outside the arena. Bringing our first neutral-site home game to Kelowna as part of Kelowna HOOPFEST is about growing the game and connecting with new communities.”

Mayor Tom Dyas added that the game will "continue to build Kelowna's reputation as a premier event-hosting city," and is expected to bring in an estimated $1M to $2M in economic impact.

"We are proud to welcome the CEBL to our community. The first-ever Kelowna HOOPFEST and surrounding events will bring people to our city, support local businesses, and provide a boost to our local economy.”

Tickets to the game are on sale now at thebandits.ca.