The Calgary Surge announced they'll be playing the Edmonton Stingers in a regular season game this summer at the Westerner Park Centrium. (rdnewsNOW/ Ian Gustafson)

By Ian Gustafson

Battle of Alberta

‘It’s a tremendous honour’: Red Deer to host CEBL game this summer

Mar 12, 2025 | 1:26 PM

Professional basketball is coming to Red Deer.

Yes, you read that right…

On Wednesday, the Calgary Surge of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced they’ll host the Edmonton Stingers at the Westerner Park Centrium on Thursday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m.

The one-night-only Surge 2 Red Deer event will mark the first out of market game held in the league’s seven-year history and is the first-ever professional basketball game held in Red Deer.

Jason Ribeiro, Surge Vice-Chairman and President, said bringing professional basketball to Red Deer is not only exciting, but nervewracking and humbling.

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“I think we couldn’t be prouder to be a part of growing the sport across the province along with our counterparts in Edmonton. To be the first to host a CEBL regular season game in what is neutral territory between us and Edmonton is a great honour,” Ribeiro said.

“We’re so excited to be bringing this event to the people of Red Deer.”

Ribeiro explained they chose Red Deer after conversations with those on the ground that highlighted frustrations of events bypassing the community.

“Looking at the geography and the distance between Edmonton and Calgary, it seemed suitable,” he said. “But I have to say everyone from tourism, to county council members, to the mayor, and businesses that have reached out to us before bringing this event has really left us inspired and grateful that our initial thought has been confirmed to something that will be really valuable to the people of Red Deer.”

In the run-up to the event, Surge players will visit Red Deer and host basketball programming in the local community, including clinics with local youth teams. More details on that will be announced later on.

Tickets will be available to the general public starting at 10 a.m. Mountain Time on Thursday, April 3. Fans interested in receiving exclusive presale access to ticket information prior to the general public can register at Surge2RedDeer.ca. Fans are encouraged to secure their seats early.

(rdnewsNOW/Ian Gustafson)

Ribeiro added, the goal is to make this an annual event but they will need community support to make it successful.

“As operators, we’re truly committed to being a professional basketball franchise, but also a live arts and entertainment operator,” he said.

“I think that leaves us with a competitive advantage of making sure when people buy tickets for this game, they’re going to be promised a show, whether that’s off the court, on the court, on the concourse, or in the plaza outside, they will leave this event with value. They will leave this event hopefully clamouring for another event next year, but I also think they’ll leave with a great sense of pride in their hometown.”

The CEBL was born in 2018 and began playing in the summer of 2019 with six teams. Since then, they’ve grown to 10 franchises, some of which have relocated to different cities.

The Stingers are going into their seventh season and the Surge are heading into their third after relocating from Guelph, Ont.

The season runs from May through August and more than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following each season. Many also attend NBA G League camps every year.

Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL, addressed those in attendance for the announcement at the Centrium on Wednesday. (rdnewsNOW/Ian Gustafson)

Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL, said central Alberta and the whole province is a hot bed for basketball.

“I’m just excited about the expansion of what we’ve built and to be able to have more communities be a part of it and experience it,” Morreale said.

“Bringing the game and experience to communities is really important in how you grow the game and how you get more kids exposed so they can watch from the sidelines and dream about being on that court one day.”

Morreale explained they have dreams to expand the league and have markets they’d like to get to when they’re ready.

Over the past four years, they went from a single entity league to independent ownership for seven of their 10 franchises.

They feel they have the ability to expand to 14 to 16 teams one day.

“I don’t think you’ll see any immediate expansion in the near future. We’re also looking at doing capital raises to grow the league, as in bringing outside investment,” he said.

“The foundation has been built, now it’s just about how can we amplify this to its biggest and best value.”

Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston expressed a desire to bring a team to Red Deer.

“I asked Jason this morning, ‘What will it take to have a team?’ There’s obviously challenges of a league that’s still only seven-years-old and a market in Calgary that’s only three-years-old. There’s some realism about that,” he explained.

“As central Alberta, we have a draw of about 400,000 to 500,000 people, so when I see some of the team names, is it out of the question? Definitely not, but we’ll certainly cut our teeth on this game and we’ll see what happens.”

Johnston also called the event extraordinarily special for the community to draw and is looking forward to the game.

“I can tell you with my experience as mayor, I have a basketball in my office and all of those things because Red Deer is a basketball city. There is a great following of basketball, so it’s a tremendous honour.”