Early this April, I was asked to speak to the downtown Rotary Club of Shreveport to inform its members as to what the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission was doing with its partners to bring sporting events to our area.

Afterward, I was approached by Dr. Scott Wysong, a professor at the University of Dallas and an expert in sports management. He mentioned he would be speaking to the same group the following week on the topic, “What will be the next pro sports team in Shreveport-Bossier?” I mentioned to Wysong that the SBSC, along with the State Fair of Louisiana (owner of Hirsch Coliseum), were in serious discussions with the owner of an American Basketball Association team. The ABA owner was very interested in moving the team, and its previous success, to our area and naming the team the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks. Fast-forward to the rst week of May, and the SBSC, along with the State Fair of Louisiana, our mayors and numerous civic leaders, held a press conference with the entire area media in attendance. The result was one of the best-covered press conferences I have ever seen.

Wysong said a professional sports team allows a community to be loyal and supportive of its team by providing a social activity that all demographics and their families can attend and become a part of over the course of the season. It also greatly impacts our area economically, seeing as a professional team that is well-funded, coached, marketed and promoted will bring media attention and visitors to our cities.

I am very excited about the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks coming to our area this fall. Not only will we have this team to give our support to, but the ownership will also be partnering and sharing in the cost with the State Fair of Louisiana, putting much-needed capital and energy back into Hirsch Coliseum.

The new owner, Jerry Nelson Jr., had incredible success with this basketball team in Beaumont, Texas, by ensuring he had the best players, coaching staff and administration to run his organization. His investment paid off with the team winning the ABA national championships in 2010 and 2011.

In speaking with ABA President Joe Newman about the team coming to our area and the team’s owner, he stated: “If I were a community and wanted to invest in a professional team of any sport, and I have been in this business for a long time, I would want Jerry Nelson as owner of the team and Steve Tucker as the coach.”

This professional basketball team, with the best owner, coach and players in the league, is a gift handed to our community.

How we choose to support this team may make the difference in not only keeping this team alive but aid in attracting other professional sports teams to our market.

I hope our community will take advantage of this opportunity and welcome our new sports group into the family.

For more information on the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks, visit their website: www.abamavericks. com or Facebook page: Shreveport- Bossier Mavericks.

Kelly Wells, CDME, CSEE is director of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. He has more than 16 years of experience in the sports and hospitality industry. He can be reached at kwells@sbctb.org or at 222-9391.