This weekend, the NBA Development League will see its 2016-17 regular season come to an end. A regular season that began with the arrival of three new expansion clubs has gone on to include single-game attendance records, a new title sponsorship agreement with Gatorade, and significant developments for league expansion.
With new clubs set to be formed in the coming years, the NBA D-League—or the G-League, as it will be known starting next year—can look forward to some new arenas. Here is a rundown of future G-League venues that are already in the works.
Nassau Veterans Coliseum, Presented by New York Community Bank
After spending this season at the Barclays Center, the Long Island Nets will head to a newly-renovated Coliseum (shown above). A venue that is best known for hosting the NHL’s New York Islanders from 1972-2015, the Coliseum is set to reopen this spring after undergoing a major renovation that will provide it with a reduced seating capacity and more modern amenities. It has also been announced that New York Community Bank will be the arena’s presenting sponsor.
The Lakeland Center
The Orlando Magic spent considerable time looking for a home for their new G-League franchise, and announced late last year that The Lakeland Center would be the team’s new home. Opening in 1974, the multi-purpose venue will see several renovations to its arena, including new digital boards and overhauled concessions, according to the Florida Business Observer. The former Erie BayHawks will arrive in Lakeland after being purchased by the Magic, which was announced in December.
Landers Center
The Landers Center is already a known commodity in sports, as the venue opened in 2000 and has hosted the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Mississippi RiverKings throughout its history. It will add a new tenant next fall, as the Memphis Grizzlies have announced plans to place an expansion G-League franchise at the venue. The 8,400-seat Landers Center is located in Southaven, MS, and the Grizzlies have touted its close proximity to Memphis as a major benefit.
Oshkosh Arena
After considering several options within Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bucks announced in February that their new G-League franchise would play in Oshkosh. Ultimately luring the Bucks to Oshkosh was an arena proposal from Fox Valley Pro Basketball that called for the construction of a 3,500-seat arena. The arena, which will include amenities such as a team store and a sports bar, is to be constructed as part of a development known as the Sawdust District. The franchise is set to begin play for the 2017-18 season.
Future College Park arena
Last year, the Atlanta Hawks announced their intention to add a G-League team of their own, with the long-term plan being to move the franchise into an arena in College Park, GA. To be constructed at the Gateway Center, the 3,500-seat arena is slated to open for the 2019-2020 season. In the meantime, the franchise will play its games in Erie, keeping the BayHawks name as part of a replacement for the franchise that is moving to Lakeland.
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