There will be no professional basketball in London and Windsor this spring.
The National Basketball League of Canada announced Friday morning that it has cancelled the 2020-2021 season, despite previous plans to open the season on March 12. The decision was made because of ongoing concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We're extremely disappointed at not being able to get back on the court and play our tenth season as planned however the safety of our fans, players and everyone associated with our game is paramount," NBLC Deputy Commissioner Audley Stephenson said in a statement released Friday. "We'll continue to use the time away to prepare for our milestone season when we return to play and strengthen our business processes."
Stephenson said the league had hoped to see a better pandemic picture by now, but with the spread of new variants of the virus and the inability to have fans in the stands, having a season this spring would be too difficult.
The NBLC and it's eight teams, including the London Lightning and the Windsor Express, plan to release details regarding a start date of the 2021-2022 season at a later date.
"On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank you for your patience and understanding. These are extremely difficult days for everyone. Please stay healthy and safe and we look forward to being to bring good news regarding next season," Stephenson said.