Genier Says There’s Still Time…to Start as Scheduled for C-E-B-L in 2020

Once again, the Saskatchewan Rattlers re-signed a player from their championship team of last year…and are continuing to say they will open the 2020 campaign on May 8 in Fraser Valley.

While almost all sports and activities are suspending events or cancelling them altogether because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it continues to be business as usual…or close to it…for the Rattlers and the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

“We’re not tone deaf to what’s going on in the world. We’re taking it day-by-day,” said Rattlers president and C-O-O Lee Genier, explaining that he’s cautiously optinistic the C-E-B-L’s second regular-season will start on time. “We’ve not stopped working. We’re signing players and we’re certainly putting all the pieces together what would make for a great season at this point.”

Genier says training camps for the seven teams are expected to start around April 28. Following is a letter from Genier to fans and media…

A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT

During these difficult and uncertain times, our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted directly by the outbreak of COVID-19, especially those whose families have been touched by job loss, illness, or death related to the virus. Basketball, and sports and entertainment in general, have understandably taken a backseat to life’s more pressing issues. But in recent days our fans, partners, and others have inquired about the status of the 2020 Canadian Elite Basketball League season. With the start of the season still several weeks away, preparations continue to go well, and we are looking forward to our home-opener on Thursday, May 14, 2020. With time on our side, it is premature to speculate as to what may happen in the future. We will continue to closely monitor all aspects of the coronavirus outbreak. If there comes a time when alterations to our schedule are required, we will make informed decisions that comply with government and public health expectations. The welfare of our fans, team and arena staff, and players is our top priority. We are developing the appropriate course of action for our games, events, and activations, and we will keep you updated. This is about more than basketball. This is about taking care of each other. We direct you to the Government of Canada website at Canada.ca where you may learn the necessary precautions to protect yourself and those around you. Thank you for your loyal support of the Saskatchewan Rattlers. As we go through this challenging time together, we look forward to the day when we can provide you with an enjoyable and memorable entertainment experience. Sincerely, Lee Genier President & COO