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ARMOR AND AMERICAN RED CROSS PARTNER FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
SPRINGFIELD, MA Jan. 14, 2010 – The Springfield Armor announced today that they will be partnering with the American Red Cross and taking monetary donations during the four remaining home games in January to help those in Haiti who are suffering due to the catastrophic earthquake that occurred on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010. According to reports, the quake measured 7.0 on the Richter scale and at least 1.8 million people live within the area where the earthquake had its highest intensity, causing an unknown number of casualties.
“We are very grateful for the Springfield Armor’s interest in helping to collect donations to help the people of Haiti,” said Paige Thayer, Deputy Director of Chapter Support at the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter. “This relief and recovery effort will take a long time, and the needs are great. The outpouring of support from all over the country and right here at home is amazing—we look forward to working together to do all we can to support those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Haiti.”
The Springfield Armor is asking all fans and residents of the Springfield and surrounding communities to make a contribution to the American Red Cross. Monetary donations can be made either at the Armor home games on January 16th, 21st, 23rd or 30th at the Armor Merchandise Stand located outside of Section 28 on the concourse at the MassMutual Center, or by visiting the Armor Offices located on the second floor of the Monarch Building in Downtown Springfield.
“Every little bit helps,” stated the Armor’s Director of Sales, Eric Reddy. “The nation of Haiti is in need, and we feel that we can help. There will be thousands of people coming out over the next few weeks and through their generosity we can make a real impact.”
To find other ways in which you can help the nation of Haiti, log onto www.armorhoops.com and click on the “Help Haiti” top story.
Tickets are still on sale for Saturday’s game and can be purchased by logging on to www.armorhoops.com or by visiting the MassMutual Center Box Office. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9-5, Saturday, 10- 4.
THE SPRINGFIELD ARMOR ACCUMULATE SIXTEEN PLAYERS FOR TRAINING CAMP
SPRINGFIELD, MA Nov. 5, 2009– The Springfield Armor tonight accumulated eight players in the 2009 NBA Development League Draft.After receiving eight additional players earlier this week the Armor’s list of training camp invitees is complete at 16.
“It is exciting to see our team start to take form”, Brown said. “The level of talent and ability that these players supply is very encouraging as we march into our first year.I’m ready to get myself and the players out on the court during training camp and finalize our roster.”
During the eight rounds, the following players were selected:
Round 1. JamesOn Curry: A 195 lb, 6’3” Guard from Oklahoma State University
Round 2.Major Wingate: A 255 lb, 6’10” Center from The University of Tennessee
Round 3. James Cripe: A 250 lb, 7’0” Center from Northern Kentucky University
Round 4.Craig Austrie: A 185 lb, 6’2” Guard from The University of Connecticut
Round 5.DeSean White: At 255 lb, 6’8” Forward from Northwood University
Round 6.Perrin Johnson: At 215 lb, 6’6” Forward from The University of Louisville
Round 7.Brandon Jones: At 205 lb, 6’6” Forward from Amherst College
Round 8.Brayden Billbe: At 234 lb, 6’10” Center from American University
The Armor’s first pick of the night was JamesOn Curry from Oklahoma State University.Curry was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 2007 NBA Draft in the second round.He spent some time that season both with the Bulls, as well as with the Iowa Energy. He had spent the previous year overseas playing in the French ProA League.
Also picked in the draft was UConn alum and resident of Stamford Connecticut, 2009 NCAA Final Four participant, Craig Austrie. Austrie is well known for his calming ability on the court and composure in pressure game situations.Averaging 7.2 points per game in his senior year, Austrie remained a constant force for the Huskies in all four years at UConn.
Brandon Jones, a native of Hopatcong, New Jersey, spent a year over seas in Germany playing for the White Devils where he averaged 16.8 points per game.While at Amherst College, Jones was named MVP of the Seventh-Annual Ken Wright ’52 Invitational and was a member of the Pioneer Valley Classic All-Tournament Team.
“Tonight was a great experience and extremely encouraging going into our first season,” said Brown. “There is going to be a lot of talent on this team and I think we will have a great roster and a very successful beginning to our franchises history.”
Along with the eight players accumulated through the Draft, the Armor added eight players through various channels including the Expansion Draft, a Local Player Allocation List and the Local Player Tryout which occurred early in October of this year.
Those players include:
1.Kentrell Gransberry:A 250 lb, 6’9” Forward/Center from The University of South Florida– Returning Player
2.Marcus Taylor:A 190 lb, 6’2” Point Guardfrom Michigan State University – Returning Player
3.Adam Harrington:A 210 lb, 6’5” Guard from Auburn University – Allocation Player
4.Maurice Maxwell:A 190 lb, 6’4” Guard from Goldey-Beacom College – Allocation Player
5.Julian Allen:A 205 lb, 6’4” Guard from Georgia Southern University - Local Tryout Player
6.Charles Easterling:A 235 lb, 6’3” Guard from Kilgore College– Local Tryout Player
7.Dante Milligan: A 210 lb, 6’4” Forward from The University of Massachusetts – Local Tryout Player
8.Tre Whitted:A 215lb, 6’9” Forward/Center from Marshall University – Local Tryout Player
Both Dante Milligan UMass alum and NIT All-Tournament Team 2008 UMass Athlete of the Week winner, as well as Charles “The Beast” Easterling, who played in the Hartford Pro-AM, are among the invitees who attended the local player tryouts early in October.Joining them at training camp is another former UMass player, and winner of the 2003 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week, Maurice Maxwell.Maxwell played two full seasons at UMass before transferring to Goldey-Beacom College. Bernardston Massachusetts native, as well as former NBA player, Adam Harrington will also join the team in training camp next week.Harrington has played with the Dallas Mavericks as well as the Denver Nuggets.
The Armor will play their home opener on Friday, November 27th when they host the Iowa Energy at 7 p.m. for the very first game in franchise history.Individual tickets for all Springfield Armor home games can be purchased at the MassMutual Center Box Office located at 1277 Main Street in Springfield.Box office hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Tickets can also be purchased anytime online at www.armorhoops.com or www.ticketmaster.com and at all area TicketMaster Outlets or by phone at 800-745-3000.hSeason and group tickets are available as well by calling the Armor at 413-746-3263.
SPRINGFIELD ARMOR INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ON SALE NOV 5th
SPRINGFIELD, MA - The Springfield Armor today announced that individual tickets will go on sale Thursday, November 5 at 9:00 AM. The announcement was made today by Springfield Armor Director of Sales Eric Reddy. Individual tickets for all Springfield Armor home games can be purchased at the MassMutual Center Box Office located at 1277 Main Street in Springfield. Box office hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m and Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased anytime online at http://www.armorhoops.com or http://www.ticketmaster.com and at all area TicketMaster Outlets or by phone at 800-745-3000.hnnhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
The Armor will play a total of 24 home games at the MassMutual Center in Downtown Springfield. Individual game ticket prices will start at just $5 for end zone seats. One unique opportunity the Armor is offering for individual seating are the "Hollywood Seats". These put you almost in the action as you sit next to the players on the bench. All together, the Armor offer a total of 10 different seating options for each game, with the majority of those options costing less than $10. "We have made a variety of seating possibilities available for our fans," Reddy said. "We want to be able to supply a special, yet affordable experience at all Armor games. Varied pricing provides an opportunity for our fans to enjoy the best basketball game day experience possible in these difficult economic times."
On November 27th the Springfield Armor is throwing it’s Opening Night celebration. This night is not only a landmark night for the Springfield community, but the NBA Development League as well. For their special night, the Armor is providing non-stop family-style entertainment, along with contest opportunities and giveaways for those in attendance.
HELP THE SPRINGFIELD ARMOR NAME THEIR MASCOT
SPRINGFIELD, MA Oct. 27, 2009 – The Springfield Armor today has announced a “Help Name the Mascot Poll,” which will be conducted on its web site – www.armorhoops.com – over a 13-day period extending through November 8th. With the inaugural season quickly approaching in 31 days, the Springfield Armor is still lacking a name for its mascot. All Armor fans are being called on to help name the character that will be the face of the newest NBA Development Team.
“This is one of the final steps in establishing our team identity. Considering our team name was chosen based on the communities input, we thought it would only be fitting to have them help name the mascot as well,” Springfield Armor General Manager Alex Schwerin said. “We want this team to reflect the Springfield community, and this is one more way in which we can accomplish that idea.”
Web site visitors will be invited to select one of five names or write in their own idea:
·Ax
·Lance
·Link
·Sabre
·Steal
·Write-in candidate – enabling the community to weigh in with original ideas.
The poll will end at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Nov 8th.
SPRINGFIELD ARMOR UNVEIL COUNTDOWN TO 1,000 PROMOTION
SPRINGFIELD, MA August 3, 2009 – The Springfield Armor today announced the "Countdown to 1,000" promotion, in which the purchaser of the 1,000th season ticket in team history will be showered with several magnificent gifts.
On the brink of a milestone, the team plans to celebrate by giving one lucky winner the following prize package for being season ticket holder No. 1,000:
-Two (2) courtside seats for a 2009-10 Springfield Armor home game
-Two (2) Springfield Armor T-shirts
-Two (2) tickets to a home game of one of the Armor affiliates. The winner may choose from the New York Knicks, the New Jersey Nets or the Philadelphia 76ers.
-Meet-and-greet with new Armor Head Coach and Director of Basketball Operations Dee Brown.
-A $25 gift card to Champions Restaurant in the Springfield Marriott
-Opportunity to toss ceremonial tip prior to an Armor home game in 2009-10
-Autographed team basketball
-Videoboard acknowledgement of being 1,000th season ticket holder during a game
The promotion will run from Monday, August 3 rd through Friday, August 7th or until the 1,000th season ticket is sold. Given the team’s current sales pace, the Armor anticipates the winner of the "Countdown to 1,000" promotion will be announced during the week of August 11th.
"We are thrilled to have been so quickly embraced by the community that we already are on the doorstep of 1,000 season tickets sold," Armor General Manager Alex Schwerin said. "To commemorate this achievement, we are offering a prize package reflecting how grateful we are for the support we have received.
"We encourage people to buy this week for a chance to win!"
Visit http://www.armorhoops.com for more information!
SPRINGFIELD'S NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE TEAM UNVEILS NAME AND LOGO!
Springfield, MA June 30, 2009 - The NBA Development League's team in Springfield today announced it would be known as the "Armor". The announcement took place at the MassMutual Center, where the team will play its 24 home games beginning in 2009-2010, and included the unveiling of the Armor's primary and alternate logos.
The name "Armor pays tribute to the historic Springfield Armory, which has served as a symbol of strength and stability for Western Massachusetts and the United States as a whole since George Washington authorized its creation in 1777.
"I'm thrilled that the identity of our basketball team pays homage to an institution as revered as the Springfield Armory," principal team owner Michael Savit said. "I'm confident that the Springfield Armor, like the Springfield Armory, will provide a source of pride throughout the Pioneer Valley."
The team's identity was determined following the results of a Name the Team poll, which enabled fans to cast a vote for options including Armor, Colonials, Founders and Spirit.
The Springfield Armor also announced the team's website, www.armorhoops.com.
"The Springfield Armor, like its historic namesake, is going to contribute mightily to the City of Springfield," said James E. Rooney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, which owns the MassMutual Center. "But instead of rifles and muskets, this enterpirse is going to produce good times for families, a new sense of team and city pride, and most importantly, bring basketball to the city that gave this great game to the world."
NBA Aligns Springfield With Three Affiliates
SPRINGFIELD, MA June 29, 2009 – The National Basketball Association today announced that NBA Springfield will be affiliated with the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Nets during its inaugural season.
NBA Springfield will be one of two NBA Development League teams to have three NBA affiliates during the 2009-10 campaign, increasing the chances for NBA players to be assigned to Springfield and take the court at the MassMutual Center. NBA teams are allowed to assign players in their first or second NBA season to their NBA D-League affiliate.
“I’m excited to be affiliated with three NBA franchises that each are so close to the NBA D-League’s newest East Coast team,” NBA Springfield principal owner Michael Savit said. “We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to work with all three NBA affiliates, and we look forward to welcoming their young prospects to Springfield to help aid in their development.”
Each of the three affiliates will be within a 250-mile radius of Springfield. Last season, the NBA D-League affiliates for both the Knicks and Nets were two time zones away.
“I am a true believer in the NBA D-League and it’s great to be affiliated with the Springfield franchise,” New York Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh said. “We have had a special relationship with the league, and we plan to continue that because it has great value to us.”
“We are very pleased to be affiliated with the Springfield entry in the NBA D-League and look forward to an excellent working relationship,” New Jersey Nets General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe said.
The affiliation also presents an operational match for the 76ers, who play their home games at the Wachovia Center. Both the Wachovia Center and the MassMutual Center are members of the Global-Spectrum Facility Management Company. Global-Spectrum is a subsidiary of Comcast-Spectacor, which owns the 76ers.
NBA Springfield was announced as the NBA D-League’s second team in New England during a press conference at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on March 31. With a nickname and logo slated to be unveiled on June 30, NBA Springfield will play a 50-game schedule, including 24 home dates at the MassMutual Center, in November.
BE THERE WHEN NBA SPRINGFIELD SHOWS OFF ITS NEW NAME AND LOGO!
NBA Springfield will add some color – along with a nickname and logo – to its identity at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30 at the MassMutual Center.The event is open to the public, so be there to share in what promises to be a proud day both for the franchise and the City of Springfield!
The identity for New England’s newest NBA Development League team was determined following the results of our Name the Team poll, which enabled fans to cast a vote for options including Armor, Colonials, Founders, Spirit or a write-in candidate. Housed on our Web site and promoted by MassLive.com, poll availability spanned from April 20 through May 1. Thanks again to everyone who made their voices heard!
With an ownership group led by Massachusetts-based Michael Savit, NBA Springfield was announced as the NBA D-League’s second team in New England during a press conference at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on March 31. Beginning in November, NBA Springfield will play a 50-game schedule, including 24 home dates at the MassMutual Center.
“I’m extremely excited for the day Springfield’s basketball team unveils its name and logo,” Savit said. “The team having an identity that reflects both Springfield’s rich heritage and the voice of our growing fan base was our top priority in the naming process, and I hope to share this proud moment with as many members of the community as possible.”
Your chance to weigh in on the naming of the NBA Development League team in Springfield is available by clicking the link above! The five options are listed below:
ARMOR – honoring the historic Springfield Armory
COLONIALS – paying tribute to Massachusetts being one of the original 13 British colonies that formed the United States
FOUNDERS – recognizing Springfield as the place where basketball was invented.
SPIRIT – celebrating the great history and civic pride embodied by Springfield, which was founded in 1635.
Write-in candidate – enabling the community to weigh in with original ideas.
NBA Development League Team Comes To Springfield, Massachusetts
Team to Begin Play Next Season
SPRINGFIELD, MA, Mar. 31, 2009 – NBA Development League President Dan Reed announced today at a press conference at the Basketball Hall of Fame that HWS Basketball, LLC will be bringing an NBA D-League team to Springfield, Massachusetts for the 2009-10 season. The team will play at Springfield’s MassMutual Center.
The new team will be owned and operated by Michael Savit who is the managing partner of HWS Basketball, LLC, a group of local investors. Savit brings with him to Springfield and the NBA D-League a wealth of minor league operational and sports business experience, including time as Senior Vice President at the Cleveland-based International Management Group (IMG) and as the managing partner of minor league baseball teams in the South Atlantic League, Midwest League, Southern League, California League, Coastal Plain League and New York-Penn League.
Savit and his group have been awarded the right to relocate the NBA D-League team currently playing in Anaheim, California to Springfield. While the local ownership group will have the option to retain rights to current Anaheim Arsenal players, they will announce a new name, colors, and a mascot for the Springfield team later on this spring.
“As the NBA D-League continues to move east, we're very excited to bring a team to a place that not only has rich basketball history, but also boasts an impressive ownership group, strong civic leadership and community support," said Reed. "We're thrilled to welcome such a well-respected and experienced operator in Mike Savit to our ownership ranks, and look forward to not only bringing our unique brand of affordable, family-friendly, and NBA-caliber basketball to Springfield, but becoming a vital part of the greater Springfield community."
Today’s announcement featured Reed, Savit, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, James E. Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, University of Massachusetts men’s basketball head coach and Springfield native Derek Kellogg and George Ramirez, the deputy director and general counsel of the Department of Business Development, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. Rooney served as a master of ceremonies for the event.
“Today is an exciting day for Springfield!” said Savit. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the group that brought professional basketball back to the game’s birthplace and I can’t wait to contribute to this city’s great basketball history and become part of the fabric of the community.”
“The National Basketball Association, Springfield and the MassMutual Center are a powerful combination,” said Rooney of the MCCA, which owns the venue. “The entire Pioneer Valley will undoubtedly embrace our new pro team, and we plan to be worthy partners with our top-tier service and state-of-the-art amenities.”
The team in Springfield will be affiliated with two NBA team parent-clubs, which will be able to assign their first and second year players to the club up to three times during a season. Thus far, the 2008-09 NBA D-League season has had 30 NBA players assigned on 39 occasions to NBA D-League affiliates to continue to develop their games. An announcement regarding Springfield’s NBA team affiliations will occur during the offseason.
The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league and features 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams. The league has produced 15 percent of the players on 2007-08 end-of-season NBA rosters and continues to develop current NBA coaches and referees. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote youth basketball, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout this season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.
Springfield gets NBA Developmental League team
by The Republican Sports Desk
Monday March 30, 2009, 11:59 PM
By RON CHIMELIS
rchimelis@repub.com
SPRINGFIELD - Basketball's birthplace will be the home of an NBA minor league franchise next season.
The NBA has awarded Springfield a franchise in the NBA Development League, commonly known as the D-League. The new team will be introduced Tuesday at a press conference to be held at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
"We could have approached the NBA about any location, in or out of New England," said Michael K. Savit of Newton, the principal member of an ownership group that has made a $2 million investment in the franchise.
"But here, we will be located in the sport's birthplace, where there is a rich tradition of high school and youth basketball. It also borders a basketball crazy state (Connecticut).
"There is no team in Hartford, no team in Worcester. We're the only team in the region."
Home games will be played at the MassMutual Center.
"The building holds 6,600 people, so we hope to have 6,600 fans each night," Savit said. "But we are really looking at 3,500 to 4,000. We think that is realistic."
Each D-League team is affiliated with one or two NBA teams, who supply players they consider to have NBA potential.
Savit expects Springfield to be affiliated with two NBA teams, each of which will assign one or two players. He said he will not know which teams will be involved until the end of the NBA season.
"My best guess is that they will be two teams from the Eastern seaboard," Savit said.
The Boston Celtics are not expected to be one of them. The Celtics appear set for affiliation with a new franchise in Portland, Maine.
Savit expects Springfield and Portland to play each other numerous times, though, to control travel costs. That means Celtics prospects would come to the MassMutual Center frequently with the visiting team.
After the NBA affiliates assign a handful of players, Springfield's roster will be filled with players acquired in a November draft. The 48-game season begins the week after Thanksgiving and continues until April, followed by playoffs.
Savit, 52, is a manager partner of Wellesley-based Hws Basketball, which will operate the Springfield franchise.
It is a newly formed subsidiary of Hws Group, which specializes in minor league baseball ownership. Hws Group currently operates baseball teams in Mobile, Ala., Modesto, Calif., and Ohio's Mahoning Valley.
Savit said the Springfield ownership group involves about a dozen Pioneer Valley investors. He declined to disclose names, saying they all have minor shares and could be joined by additional local investors.
Hws Basketball will be responsible for hiring a coach. Savit said that won't occur until the identity of the NBA parent clubs is known, the better to match the coach with a specific system.
The team's name, logo and colors are still to be determined, Savit said.
The D-League is for prospects - it is where a young player looks for exposure and experience, not a career.
The top salary is generally around $24,000.
Springfield and Portland represent the D-League's first ventures into New England. The current league's easternmost franchises are in Erie, Pa., and Fort Wayne, Ind.
At a time investors of all kinds are approaching the weakened economy with trepidation, Savit is speaking confidently about the growth potential of the D-League and his new franchise.
"I'm looking beyond the current economic climate," he said. "With the NBA fully behind this league, I think the value of these franchises will appreciate.
"This will be great for Springfield, great for Western Massachusetts, great for the NBA, and hopefully great for the investors. That's my gamble, but I believe in Springfield."
About the NBA D-League
The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league and features 17 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams. The league has produced 15 percent of the players on 2007-08 end-of-season NBA rosters and continues to develop current NBA coaches and referees. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote youth basketball, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout this season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.
More information regarding team name, NBA Affiliation(s), ticket sales, and schedule to follow. Please check back often for all the information regarding NBA D-League Springfield.
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