October 30, 2015

ST. LOUIS – The 2016 Midwest Professional Basketball Association schedule will be played without one of its charter members, the Bloomington Flex, after the team was unable to submit, per league rules, a venue agreement or playing dates for the upcoming season.

“We need to release our schedule,” said C. Edward “Ed” Schumer, Commissioner of the MPBA.  “And if the Flex are starting from scratch trying to find a suitable facility and available dates, that could take weeks.  Our season tips off in less than three months, and we just can’t put a schedule on hold any longer.  Our teams need to start finalizing agreements with sponsors and begin marketing their schedules,” Schumer said.

The MPBA will not be a stranger to U.S. Cellular Coliseum in 2016, however.  The league and the Coliseum have agreed to play two MPBA regular-season double-headers there, and the facility will again host the league’s post-season championship tournament on April 1-2, as announced yesterday. 

The MPBA has also already begun discussions to return basketball to the Coliseum in 2017.

“Bloomington has a rich basketball history in the community,” said Bart Rogers, general manager for U. S. Cellular Coliseum.  “The pro model that has called U. S. Cellular Coliseum home has set the foundation for future growth,” Rogers said. 

“We love the market,” said Schumer.  “It’s clear that there is a lot of untapped potential here.  Bloomington’s fans have been great, and we want to give them another product they can be proud of.”

League officials expect to release the 2016 schedule on Monday, November 2.