Ottawa Blackjacks named Seventh Franchise of Canadian Elite Basketball League

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday a multi-year agreement with TD Place to host the Ottawa BlackJacks, which will tipoff its inaugural season in 2020. The BlackJacks join the six-team single entity ownership league that launched in 2019 and will also be owned by Richard Petko.

The BlackJacks represent the first expansion franchise for Canada’s only First Division professional basketball league, joining charter teams in Edmonton, Guelph, Fraser Valley, Hamilton, Niagara and reigning champion, Saskatchewan. The BlackJacks inaugural season schedule will be released on November 26 as part of the release of the entire CEBL season schedule. The CEBL will begin the process of hiring senior administration for the BlackJacks immediately. Coaching staff and training camp information will be determined in the near future.

Basketball fans in the Ottawa/Gatineau region can get a jump start on the action through the BlackJacks first season ticket deposit drive, which launched in conjunction with Wednesday’s announcement. A $50 non-refundable deposit guarantees fans front of the line access to celebrity, courtside and lower bowl tickets in the Arena at TD Place, in addition to a limited-edition Ottawa BlackJacks official New Era team T-shirt. For more information or to secure your part of Ottawa basketball history, visit www.theBlackJacks.ca.

Flex and Voucher Packs, Group Tickets and Single-Game Tickets will go on sale in early 2020.

Named after the most elusive jackrabbit on the planet, the Ottawa BlackJacks are not your typical bunny. BlackJacks are incredibly fast, capable of reaching speeds in excess of 70 kilometres per hour and can outrun many of its opponents. Tremendous leapers, the BlackJacks have very strong legs and can jump more than 10 feet, which is the same height as a basketball net. Equipped with a black tail and incredible defence, the BlackJacks are often hungry creatures because of their work ethic and can consume large quantities of food. BlackJacks travel the world throughout the year but love to return home to Ottawa during the spring and summer months, when they are most productive. With such a large basketball community in the Ottawa area, BlackJacks population is set to climb substantially in the coming year.

“The CEBL is thrilled to welcome the Ottawa BlackJacks to its roster of professional basketball clubs. Ottawa/Gatineau and the surrounding area has a history of basketball excellence. The game was invented in Almonte, which is about 40-minutes west of the city. We look forward to bringing a family-oriented, basketball and entertainment experience to the Arena at TD Place. This relationship ensures the sustainability of the team and delivers another club for the legion of sports fans in the Ottawa area to rally behind.”

- Mike Morreale, CEO and Commissioner, Canadian Elite Basketball League

“We are excited to welcome the Ottawa BlackJacks to TD Place, the organization that manages the city’s downtown sports and entertainment venue and its surrounding Lansdowne lifestyle district. With the men’s and women’s U SPORTS Final 8 Championships coming to TD Place in March, it’s a perfect time to add professional basketball to our local sports landscape. The BlackJacks deliver high-end play on the court and a modern vibe in the air so it’s going to be something very new and exciting for the fans in our region.”

- Mark Goudie, President and CEO, OSEG