Albany Patroons

Albany Patroons
Albany Patroons logo
LeaguesContinental Basketball Association
1982–1992, 2005–2009
United States Basketball League
2006–2007
The Basketball League
2018–present
Founded1982
HistoryAlbany Patroons
1982–1992
Capital Region Pontiacs
1992–1993
Albany Patroons
2005–2009
Albany Patroons
2018–present
ArenaWashington Avenue Armory
LocationAlbany, New York
Team colorsgold, green
   
Vice-president(s)Michael Corts, Rocco Ricchiuti
Head coachDerrick Rowland
OwnershipBen Fernandez
Championships3 (1984, 1988, 2019)
WebsiteOfficial website

The Albany Patroons are a professional basketball team that plays in The Basketball League (TBL). Previously, the team competed in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and in the United States Basketball League (USBL). The Patroons won CBA championships in 1984 and 1988[1] as well as a TBL championship in 2019.[2] The team's name derives from patroon, the term for a large landholders in New Netherland, the Dutch colony that once included the Albany region.

Formed in 1982,[1] the Patroons' original home arena was the Washington Avenue Armory,[3] a former New York National Guard armory.[4] The team later moved from this location to MVP Arena, then known as the Knickerbocker Arena.[5][6] The franchise was renamed the Capital Region Pontiacs in 1992[7] and was relocated to Connecticut in 1993.[6]

The Patroons rejoined the CBA in 2005.[8] When the CBA ceased its operations in 2009, the team went defunct.[9]

The Patroons became a member of North American Premier Basketball (NAPB) in the 2018 season, once again playing at the Washington Avenue Armory.[9][8] The league was later renamed to The Basketball League prior to the 2019 season.[10]

  1. ^ a b Bouyea, Brien (November 24, 2004). "Patroons to be resurrected". The Record. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  2. ^ Martin, Sean (May 4, 2019). "Albany Patroons win TBL championship". Times Union. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  3. ^ Awareness, Relentless (August 30, 2017). "Washington Avenue Armory, Albany Patroons announce return of professional basketball in Albany". Medium. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Hallisey, Michael (July 25, 2018). "Mirk set to release new album complete with unique visual experience". Spotlight News. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  5. ^ MacAdam, Mike (September 19, 2018). "Documentary captures fun, spirit of 1982-92 Albany Patroons - The Daily Gazette". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Stashenko, Joel (April 4, 2005). "Former county executive seeks to revive Armory and Albany Patroons". Albany Business Review. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  7. ^ Miller, Chuck (November 16, 2016). "The Trading Cards of the Albany Patroons". Chuck Miller. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Lucas, Dave (April 29, 2018). "Fail: Albany Patroons Reboot". WAMC. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Redick, Geoff (August 30, 2017). "Basketball rebounds in Albany as Patroons return to Armory". Spectrum News. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Island Storm believes it has found a hidden gem in Dominic Shuler". The Guardian. August 7, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2021.