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For the first time since 1966, Johnstown will be home to a professional basketball team.
The Johnstown 36ers will be members of the American Basketball Association beginning during the 2027-28 season.
ABA Chief Executive Officer Joe Newman announced the team will join the league Saturday. The ABA's Atlantic City Seagulls relocated to Johnstown.
"Following a transition of ownership and relocation, the team has officially moved from Atlantic City to Johnstown," Newman said. "The team is under the leadership of Darrin 'Slim' Akers, principal owner and team governor. Slim has a tremendous amount of experience in both business and basketball and I have no doubt that he will be very successful in Johnstown."
The modern American Basketball Association features over 100 active professional teams across the United States. Due to the high volume of franchises and frequent changes, but the league remains divided into four regional conferences.
The team's website was launched Friday.
"The Johnstown 36ers are built on resilience, toughness, pride and community," Akers said. "We are here to honor the past while building something new for the future: a professional basketball organization that represents the people, history and heart of Johnstown."
Johnstown chose a number as its nickname that has meaning to the city.
"The name 36ers honors the year 1936, a defining chapter in Johnstown’s history," Akers said. "The flood of 1936 tested the strength, courage and resilience of this city. Johnstown did what Johnstown has always done: it rebuilt, stood tall and kept moving forward."
Fans can vote on the team's website to decide the mascot, either a bunny, ironworker or steelhawk.
The Johnstown C-J's played in the Eastern Professional Basketball League in 1965-66. The Johnstown Johnnies played four seasons between 1908-12, winning a Central Basketball League title in 1912.
"We have created the new brand around the principles of community pride, hard work, perseverance, opportunity and championship ambition," Akers said. "The organization believes the 36ers' identity will create a lasting connection between the team and future generations of Johnstown basketball supporters. The team will play their home games at the legendary War Memorial Arena, one of Pennsylvania's most historic sports venues. The arena provides the team with a true professional atmosphere and connects the 36ers to Johnstown's proud sports history."
However, 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial General Manager Jean Desrochers said there is no agreement between the arena and team.
"We would welcome basketball at the arena, but we have never heard or been contacted by this group," Desrochers said. "There is no lease in place for basketball next season."
Akers has successfully owned and operated the Camden Monarchs, Yeadon Kings and Atlantic City Seagulls.
The 36ers want to become a staple in a city that includes the Johnstown Mill Rats (Prospect League baseball) and Tomahawks (Tier II junior hockey in the North American Hockey League).
"Beyond basketball, we're committed to becoming part of the fabric of Johnstown," Akers said. "We're planning several free community events throughout the month of August, giving families an opportunity to meet our organization, participate in youth activities and celebrate the return of professional basketball to the city before our inaugural season. Our vision extends well beyond what happens on the basketball court. We want to create an organization that supports local businesses, invests in young people, provides community programming and gives the region a professional sports franchise the entire community can rally behind for years to come."
Currently headquartered at the Johnstown Galleria in Richland Township, Akers said the team is looking for a place downtown to station its offices and other amenities.
"We're actively searching for a property in downtown Johnstown that we can purchase and transform into Legends Hall," Akers said. "Legends Hall will serve as the permanent home of our organization, housing our corporate headquarters, official team store, administrative offices and player dormitories for athletes relocating to Johnstown from across Pennsylvania and around the country. We believe this investment will not only strengthen our organization, but also contribute to the continued revitalization of downtown Johnstown."
Basketball has a rich history at 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial. In 1966, the Boston Celtics, coming off their eighth consecutive NBA championship, played a St. Francis College alumni team to raise funds for Maurice Stokes, the former NBA rookie of the year and legendary St. Francis player.
The former Cambria County War Memorial Invitational Tournament was held from 1949 (a year before the arena opened) through the mid-1990s. At one time, the War Memorial Invitational was among the top scholastic events in the country with future college and professional stars such as Wilt Chamberlain, Rasheed Wallace, Reggie Lewis, Reggie Williams, Tyrone Bogues, Pat Cummings, Don Maser, Eugene Banks, Dwight Collins, Jeff Lebo, Dan Ferry, Ron Nathanic, Tom Yewcic and Sam Clancy among those who played.
Local high school basketball teams played inside the arena in 2014 and 2018. District 6 championship basketball games were contested there in 2004.
St. Francis University played a series of men’s and women’s basketball games at the arena in 2014 and 2015, with the men’s program facing opponents such as Duquesne and the Naval Academy, and the women’s team playing Bowling Green and Pitt-Johnstown.
Greater Johnstown used the War Memorial as their home court for decades until moving to the West Side Elementary court in 1992-93 and Stofko Gymnasium at the current high school in 2003-04.
Continue reading...
The Johnstown 36ers will be members of the American Basketball Association beginning during the 2027-28 season.
ABA Chief Executive Officer Joe Newman announced the team will join the league Saturday. The ABA's Atlantic City Seagulls relocated to Johnstown.
"Following a transition of ownership and relocation, the team has officially moved from Atlantic City to Johnstown," Newman said. "The team is under the leadership of Darrin 'Slim' Akers, principal owner and team governor. Slim has a tremendous amount of experience in both business and basketball and I have no doubt that he will be very successful in Johnstown."
The modern American Basketball Association features over 100 active professional teams across the United States. Due to the high volume of franchises and frequent changes, but the league remains divided into four regional conferences.
The team's website was launched Friday.
"The Johnstown 36ers are built on resilience, toughness, pride and community," Akers said. "We are here to honor the past while building something new for the future: a professional basketball organization that represents the people, history and heart of Johnstown."
Johnstown chose a number as its nickname that has meaning to the city.
"The name 36ers honors the year 1936, a defining chapter in Johnstown’s history," Akers said. "The flood of 1936 tested the strength, courage and resilience of this city. Johnstown did what Johnstown has always done: it rebuilt, stood tall and kept moving forward."
Fans can vote on the team's website to decide the mascot, either a bunny, ironworker or steelhawk.
The Johnstown C-J's played in the Eastern Professional Basketball League in 1965-66. The Johnstown Johnnies played four seasons between 1908-12, winning a Central Basketball League title in 1912.
"We have created the new brand around the principles of community pride, hard work, perseverance, opportunity and championship ambition," Akers said. "The organization believes the 36ers' identity will create a lasting connection between the team and future generations of Johnstown basketball supporters. The team will play their home games at the legendary War Memorial Arena, one of Pennsylvania's most historic sports venues. The arena provides the team with a true professional atmosphere and connects the 36ers to Johnstown's proud sports history."
However, 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial General Manager Jean Desrochers said there is no agreement between the arena and team.
"We would welcome basketball at the arena, but we have never heard or been contacted by this group," Desrochers said. "There is no lease in place for basketball next season."
Akers has successfully owned and operated the Camden Monarchs, Yeadon Kings and Atlantic City Seagulls.
The 36ers want to become a staple in a city that includes the Johnstown Mill Rats (Prospect League baseball) and Tomahawks (Tier II junior hockey in the North American Hockey League).
"Beyond basketball, we're committed to becoming part of the fabric of Johnstown," Akers said. "We're planning several free community events throughout the month of August, giving families an opportunity to meet our organization, participate in youth activities and celebrate the return of professional basketball to the city before our inaugural season. Our vision extends well beyond what happens on the basketball court. We want to create an organization that supports local businesses, invests in young people, provides community programming and gives the region a professional sports franchise the entire community can rally behind for years to come."
Currently headquartered at the Johnstown Galleria in Richland Township, Akers said the team is looking for a place downtown to station its offices and other amenities.
"We're actively searching for a property in downtown Johnstown that we can purchase and transform into Legends Hall," Akers said. "Legends Hall will serve as the permanent home of our organization, housing our corporate headquarters, official team store, administrative offices and player dormitories for athletes relocating to Johnstown from across Pennsylvania and around the country. We believe this investment will not only strengthen our organization, but also contribute to the continued revitalization of downtown Johnstown."
Basketball has a rich history at 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial. In 1966, the Boston Celtics, coming off their eighth consecutive NBA championship, played a St. Francis College alumni team to raise funds for Maurice Stokes, the former NBA rookie of the year and legendary St. Francis player.
The former Cambria County War Memorial Invitational Tournament was held from 1949 (a year before the arena opened) through the mid-1990s. At one time, the War Memorial Invitational was among the top scholastic events in the country with future college and professional stars such as Wilt Chamberlain, Rasheed Wallace, Reggie Lewis, Reggie Williams, Tyrone Bogues, Pat Cummings, Don Maser, Eugene Banks, Dwight Collins, Jeff Lebo, Dan Ferry, Ron Nathanic, Tom Yewcic and Sam Clancy among those who played.
Local high school basketball teams played inside the arena in 2014 and 2018. District 6 championship basketball games were contested there in 2004.
St. Francis University played a series of men’s and women’s basketball games at the arena in 2014 and 2015, with the men’s program facing opponents such as Duquesne and the Naval Academy, and the women’s team playing Bowling Green and Pitt-Johnstown.
Greater Johnstown used the War Memorial as their home court for decades until moving to the West Side Elementary court in 1992-93 and Stofko Gymnasium at the current high school in 2003-04.
Continue reading...
