WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren OhioMinor League Basketball Team Might Be Headed To Youngstown

Minor League Basketball Team Might Be Headed To Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio- A minor-league basketball team associated with the Cleveland Cavaliers could be on its way to the valley, according to our print partner, the Vindicator.

Plans are still in the works but it could bring a new team to the Covelli Center.

Bruce Zoldan, the owner of the Phantoms hockey team, tells 21 News that there is interest from the Cleveland Cavaliers to start a Development League team in Youngstown.

Eric Ryan, the director of the Covelli Center, told our print partner The Vindicator that officials with the Cavs contacted him last month about bringing a D-Team to Youngstown.

Both men say there's no concrete deal, but ongoing talks.

Ryan says the D-League is always expanding, and the Covelli Center is looking for new opportunities.

Zoldan says he hasn't been formally asked about any partnership, but as owner of the Phantoms, he'd be open to discussions.

Youngstown has had some professional basketball teams in the past, but none associated with the NBA.

The main issue with bringing a basketball team to the Covelli Center is that the Phantoms' hockey season coincides with the NBA D-League season, so there could be a conflict for both sports using the Center.

But Zoldan says it could keep the facility busy.

"If the D-League would come in I think it would be almost every weekend that you'd see either hockey or basketball," Zoldan said. "And hopefully with us working together, if that happens, we would be able to work out the schedules to alternate."

Talks over this possible D-Team are still preliminary, but Zoldan tells us if it moves forward, it's something that could happen relatively soon.