Central Basketball Association

Traditionally, within the minor league basketball industry, the basketball leagues themselves focus solely on their respective local or regional markets; however, there is little or no networking or business relationships formed on the national or international level.

Moreover, most minor league basketball organizations, on the league-level, lack the following critical elements: internal corporate structure, positive media relationships, short-term and long-term business strategies, as well as financial strength.

They further lack a practical vision for success for everyone involved in their league, whether it be the individual team owners who are attempting to grow their small businesses, or players who are seeking an opportunity to advance their careers, or coaches who are hoping for an entry into the coveted high-school or collegiate coaching industry, or business partners who are looking for yet another avenue to engage in financial growth. 

This is where the Central Basketball Association has bucked all traditional norms of the minor league basketball industry, and has not only participated in a track-record of success over the last four seasons, but has also provided a pioneering platform for long-term viability and performance for all parties associated with the league.

In 2015, after months of behind-the-scenes work, the CBA began a landmark partnership with Under Armour, which led to the sporting-apparel giant becoming the official apparel brand for the league.

With the introduction of Under Armour uniforms, apparel, and products into the CBA, the goal of the relationship between these two entities was to begin a movement in the basketball industry, where players, coaches, and fans, equated the next-generation of success and popularity within basketball with Under Armour. As Golden State Warriors' guard, Stephen Curry, provided positive publicity for Under Armour at the NBA level, the goal for the CBA was to build and sustain that popularity at the grassroots level.

However, in order to ensure that the CBA could fulfill its end of the bargain of promoting Under Armour at the local, regional, national, and international level, it became critical for the league to continue and build upon their plan for short-term and long-term growth and success. And what better place to engage in these strategic decisions than at the Under Armour Global Headquarters itself in Baltimore, Md.

This past weekend, the CBA conducted its annual league meeting on the campus of Under Armour, consisting of league management as well as representatives from the following 10 teams, who are seeking to participate in the league's fifth year of competition in 2017: Baltimore, Bowling Green, Fort Wayne, Illinois, Indianapolis, Memphis, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi, Peoria, and Washington.  

Critical matters were presented, evaluated, and negotiated this weekend such as techniques in promoting the Under Armour brand to high school, collegiate, AAU, and various other sporting organizations within each team's respective community. Furthermore, topics such as FIBA rules, revenue and business partnership opportunities for teams, player development, and the CBA Global Opportunities Program, were also discussed at the meeting. 

Not only was the league meeting a success for all parties that participated during the course of the three-day event in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area, but it provided an opportunity for members of the league to further network with one another and continue to engage in a familial-style relationship. 

Regardless, though, of the content of the internal discussions at the league meeting, its very occurrence is a landmark moment for the CBA. It is one thing for a league to just wear Under Armour uniforms. It is; however, another thing for a league to engage in a healthy and critical partnership with a sporting-apparel giant, to the extent that the CBA is conducting its internal league meetings on the Under Armour campus. That, in itself, is the greatest success for the CBA to date; a feat that no other current minor league basketball organization has been able to accomplish. 

For more information about the Central Basketball Association, including the release of the 2017 league schedule next month, email the league at info@playcba.com, and follow the league through its social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.