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BLOOMINGTON FLEX AMONG SIX CHARTER MEMBERS OF MPBA

By Craig Fata, 08/29/14, 4:46PM CDT

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League expects to begin play in January 2015 with six teams

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2014
Contact:   Craig Fata, Vice President
(844) THE-MPBA / craig.fata@theMPBA.com


ST. LOUIS – The two-time minor league champion Bloomington Flex are among six charter members of the new Midwest Professional Basketball Association™ (MPBA™), which will be based in St. Louis under the direction of Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner C. Edward “Ed” Schumer.

                    The Flex won Premier Basketball League championships in 2012 and 2013, and were 18-0 in league play in 2014. 

                    Two teams from St. Louis and two teams from Chicago will join the Flex in the MPBA for 2015.  The sixth team will be located in Champaign, Illinois.  Those teams, their nicknames, and their home venues will be publicly revealed in separate announcements in the coming weeks.

                    “We’re excited about this first group,” said Schumer.  “We are not finished by any stretch of the imagination, as we have discussions ongoing with several other interested teams.  But we’re thrilled to have one of the very best organizations in minor league basketball among our charter members to serve as a model.  And with the additional agreements in development, we feel very confident that we will quickly establish ourselves as the premier league in America at this level,” Schumer said.

                    “The geographic footprint of the league, as well as its business model and management structure was perfect for us,” said Scott Henderson, owner of the Flex.  “The competition will be very good, and it will create regional rivalries that our fans will love.  This is definitely the right move for us,” Henderson said.

                    One of the Chicago clubs, the Force, had formed their organization late last year, but ended up not participating in a league in 2014.

                    “We were ready to compete last year,” said LaChelle Sanders, who co-owns the Force with her husband, Steve.  “We will be even hungrier this year, and we’re proud to be in on the ground floor of something special,” Sanders said.

                    League Commissioner/CEO C. Edward “Ed” Schumer is a St. Louis native and principal in the ThomasSchumerGroup, a small business consulting firm.  Schumer served for more than twenty years as an NCAA basketball official in the Big 8 and Missouri Valley Conferences, and was selected to work three NCAA tournaments, as well as numerous National Invitation Tournaments.  He has also served as the commissioner of an NAIA Division I conference.  

                    Schumer looks forward to being a positive influence in the often-tumultuous minor league basketball landscape.  "Our plan is to enable others to follow their passions and make a difference in their communities.  We are going to give all our teams the tools necessary to build a successful operation both on and off the court.  And we are committed to providing the opportunity for post-collegiate basketball players to continue the pursuit of their dream to play professional basketball.  By accomplishing these goals, we will grow the MPBA as the preeminent minor league basketball league in the country,” Schumer said.

                    More information can be found on the league’s website, www.theMPBA.com, with a full site to go live in the coming weeks.  On social media, the league can be found on Facebook at Midwest Professional Basketball Association, and on Twitter at @OfficialMPBA.

 

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The mission of the MPBA is to attract the top minor league basketball players, coaches, owners and staff members from across the United States, and to provide that talent with the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional environment; the MPBA will also provide its fans and supporters with a fun, value-based entertainment experience, as well as incorporate community outreach programs into its members’ operations.