NEWS CHANNEL
Published: 09/09/2010 11:31 -
Updated: 09/09/2010 11:34
MK Lions' future in the city has been confirmed as they agreed a three-year-deal to play in a warehouse in Winterhill.
The basketball side will play their home games in a 30,000 square foot site in the retail district on Grafton Gate.
The Lions had been facing the prospect of leaving Milton Keynes when their deal with thecentre:mk fell through in the summer. The team had been playing the games at the shopping venue since moving from Bletchley Leisure Centre, which was redeveloped and unable to host the side and its fans.
But at the 11th hour owner Vince Macaulay has found a venue, although he is now looking for planning permission to be granted by Milton Keynes Council to develop the warehouse in to a basketball hosting venue.
Macaulay said: “This season the Lions will challenge again. We have seen our fan base increase year on year and it’s time to move forward, we have acquired the site for three years and it will house not only the show court but also two training courts, a Learning Centre and office space as we continue to expand our National League and development programme.
"We are the largest basketball organisation for miles around and feel we should blaze a trail for our sport.”
“We are going to need the help and support of many people, the Council are now going to deal with our planning change application to leisure use.
"We have mountains of work to do to get all our seats lights, floor and baskets in as well as develop the other aspects of the building, painting, partitioning etc, but it is reassuring to know where we will be for the short to midterm future."
Lions are hoping the could be in the warehouse by November 14. In the meantime they will play their opening three home games at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.
The basketball side will play their home games in a 30,000 square foot site in the retail district on Grafton Gate.
The Lions had been facing the prospect of leaving Milton Keynes when their deal with thecentre:mk fell through in the summer. The team had been playing the games at the shopping venue since moving from Bletchley Leisure Centre, which was redeveloped and unable to host the side and its fans.
But at the 11th hour owner Vince Macaulay has found a venue, although he is now looking for planning permission to be granted by Milton Keynes Council to develop the warehouse in to a basketball hosting venue.
Macaulay said: “This season the Lions will challenge again. We have seen our fan base increase year on year and it’s time to move forward, we have acquired the site for three years and it will house not only the show court but also two training courts, a Learning Centre and office space as we continue to expand our National League and development programme.
"We are the largest basketball organisation for miles around and feel we should blaze a trail for our sport.”
“We are going to need the help and support of many people, the Council are now going to deal with our planning change application to leisure use.
"We have mountains of work to do to get all our seats lights, floor and baskets in as well as develop the other aspects of the building, painting, partitioning etc, but it is reassuring to know where we will be for the short to midterm future."
Lions are hoping the could be in the warehouse by November 14. In the meantime they will play their opening three home games at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.
