mostly nonfiction and bakersfield news | April 29th, 2009
Bakersfield Jam NBA D League Basketball Organization To Cease Operations
The economic downturn has hit one of Bakersfield’s pro sports teams as the NBA D League Bakersfield Jam announced on Wednesday that they are ceasing operations.
Team owner Stan Ellis said to Face News, “I wouldn’t say we’re folding. We’re just not going to operate anymore. It’s not good business sense.”
On ESPN Radio 1230 Vance Palm, Vice President of Communications for the Jam, said there is a small chance the Jam could be saved, but that from the standpoint of the team owners, Stan Ellis and David Higdon, they are done.
Palm said on the radio show, calling in from the Jam office, that Ellis and Higdon are going to meet with a representative of the Los Angeles Lakers to see if there is any way the team can be saved. Palm said there’s a small chance someone inside or outside the community could step up and salvage the team.
Jam players barely got to practice in the state-of-the-art practice facility that was being built on Stan Ellis industrial property located on Norris Road. The wooden basketball court inside had been bought off the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaking with Corey Costello, Palm said the training facility won’t be torn down. “That will not go to waste,” he said. Palm added the facility would be rented out to youth sports and the Ellis offices would be located there.
KBAK’s John Franchi spoke with Palm on its 5 p.m. newscast from the Jam practice facility. Palm, wearing a black polo style Golden State Warriors shirt said that today he had no idea he would be wearing such an ominous color. He added that a lot of kids loved coming into the Rabobank. He called it a “tough day” at the Jam offices.
In what Palm noted as an “ironic twist of fate,” said the Jam organization just found out in a recent survey that Bakersfield was where NBA D League athletes wanted to get to because of the state-of-the-art practice facility.
“Everyone knows in this business it’s not a money maker. You hope to break even,” Ellis said to the TV station. Palm said he considers both Ellis and Higdon wonderful business men and people. “They were looking at the bigger picture of what they could offer the world,” Palm said.
Talking to the radio station, Palm said it was discussed to actually put the team up on eBay, but they decided not to. Costello then joked that if nothing was nailed down, then Palm should steal as much merchandise as possible, especially the Swish costume.
All joking aside, Palm said to Face News, “I have a couple of tough days ahead of me…”
***********************
Get Face News updates via cell phone: www.twitter.com/nlbelardes
5 Responses for “Bakersfield Jam NBA D League Basketball Organization To Cease Operations”
Leave a Reply
I’m so bummed about this news. I’ve even posted my disappointed on twitter where I made lots of friends because of the the NBA-D and my support of the Bakersfield Jam. Sucks. I hope there’s some kind of miracle out there that will bring them back to life…
On a another note, I want some of that Jam merch if they’re just gonna recycle it. I could use a T-shirt, a #17 jersey, a scarf… lol…. no seriously… hhhmmph.
Ok well its no suprise to me that they are shutting it down but just because I felt it happing doesn’t make it any easier. I’m really sad to hear that they are done and I hope a big shot in bakersfield takes it over. I also think they should hire me to run there promtion I think me and chingpea with some help can turn things around.
Bakersfield big shot? Like who Johnny? I wish there were more big shots in town who love sports, but I doubt it…. Let’s hope the Lakers buy the Jam!!
Ugh. Sad. Just took our 6 year old to his first Jam game a few weeks ago. Hate to have to disappoint and tell him there won’t be anymore games. Well, here we come Blaze!
I had fun covering the games and we lost a sponsor for our site. Slugs in the stomach all around… oof!