League NBL Canada Head coach Mike Leslie Arena Scotiabank Centre | Arena Capacity 11,093 Website HalifaxHurricanes.ca Date founded 2015 | |
History Halifax Hurricanes (NBL)
2015–present Team colours Navy blue, sky blue, white Location Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada | ||
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The Halifax Hurricanes are a professional basketball team playing based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team competes in the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL) and are a part of the Atlantic Division. The Hurricanes were founded to replace the Halifax Rainmen, who declared bankruptcy in July 2015 ultimately leading to the club folding.
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History
Following steadily declining attendance and fallout from the 2015 NBL Canada Finals brawl the Halifax Rainmen folded in July 2015, with owner Andre Levingston citing bankruptcy with the franchise falling into a debt of nearly $700,000. The Rainmen folding disappointed fans and left a void in the Halifax professional basketball market, and the league had lost one of its founding franchises and second largest market. Soon after, efforts began to replace the Rainmen.
On September 3, 2015, it was officially announced that professional basketball would be returning to Halifax. The new ownership group was expanded from just Andre Levingston to a 25 member investors group from the Halifax business community to stabilize ownership and reduce financial risk. Andre Levingston was named General Manager of Basketball Operations. Hugo López was hired to be the franchise's first head coach, as announced on September 30, 2015. On October 20, 2015, the franchise unveiled its name, logo, and introduced their head coach. The Hurricanes also announced their first two signings. Former Rainmen member Cliff Clinkscales returning to Halifax with newcomer Mike Glover.
In their first season, the Hurricanes won both preseason games, before winning their first ever regular season home game 129-113 against the Moncton Miracles in front of approximately 2,000 fans on December 26, 2015.
Coach López and the Hurricanes were unable to come to terms for a second season and Kevin Keathley was hired as head coach and general manager for the 2016–17 season. Unfortunately, coach Keathley had to leave the team before his first season for personal reasons. He was replaced by Mike Leslie.
Home arena
The Scotiabank Centre multi-purpose indoor sporting arena located, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The arena has a basketball capacity of 11,093. The Hurricanes share the arena with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The building is next to the World Trade and Convention Centre in Downtown Halifax, at the foot of Citadel Hill and it is the largest arena in Halifax by seating capacity.