Edmonton Stingers ready to become a go-to option for Alberta sports fans

Basketball has a strong legacy in Alberta. The University of Alberta Golden Bears have long produced a lineage of top-tier U Sports athletes that have graduated and gone on to compete at a professional level in various international leagues. Similarly, the University of Calgary Dinos claimed national supremacy when they took home the U Sports national title last March.

Before the Golden Bears or Dinos became U Sports powerhouses, however, the Edmonton Grads women’s basketball team was well-known internationally for bringing championships home to Edmonton throughout the first half of the 20th century.

Now, the Edmonton Stingers have joined the discussion as the latest installment in Alberta’s rich basketball history. As one of six professional basketball franchises set to compete in the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s (CEBL) inaugural season, the Stingers are excited for the chance to blaze a new trail and be at the forefront of professional basketball in Alberta and Canada.

Just ask Kail Schofield, the Stingers’ director of operations. Schofield has made strong efforts since being introduced in the role towards building the team’s brand and ensuring that the Stingers are visible at public events, whether at the amateur, high school, post-secondary or professional level.

Schofield stopped by local gym, Full Force Fitness, to take note of some of Edmonton’s amateur players that were in attendance for the gym’s skills competition and scrimmages. Schofield was impressed with what he saw and appreciated the chance to discuss the Stingers with members of the community.

“People are excited because what we’re finding in Edmonton is the lack of a local tie-in to the professional scene,” Schofield said. “The closest thing we have is the Raptors and as strong as the ‘We The North’ brand is, having something here really brings a new product for people to believe in and rally around.”

Known as the ‘City of Champions,’ a tribute to the winning legacy created by the Edmonton Oilers and Eskimos, Schofield said the team is looking forward to adding to the city’s strong entertainment foundation. It’s all part of the youth movement that is afoot in Edmonton, a city that is building for the future by investing in arts, culture and sports.

“We have great entertainment options already in town, from concerts, to the Oilers, the Eskimos, FC Edmonton, and more, but I think the younger market is identifying with other choices now and basketball is becoming a really big part of their interest,” Schofield said.

The next date on the Stingers’ calendar is the FIBA 3x3 Challenger event, hosted by the Alberta Basketball Association (ABA) at West Edmonton Mall’s Ice Palace. After meeting with ABA executive director Paul Sir, Schofield reiterated the Stingers’ excitement in having the chance to be on hand at the event on the weekend of Sept. 21-23.

“Alberta Basketball is such an important representative of basketball here in this market. We’ll have a presence at the event and we’re hoping to do some giveaways, but really we’re just looking to interact with the basketball community,” Schofield said.

“All eyes in the hoops community will be there. It’s bringing in elite talent at the 3x3 level. Us being able to be a part of that in any way is really exciting and we’re keen to carry that forward in a variety of ways with numerous partners over the next couple of months.”