There’s exciting news in the basketball world, and it’s got a local twist!
Manjit Minhas, a name you might recognize from TV on Dragons’ Den and as an Alberta entrepreneur, has just scored a major win.
She’s now the first woman to own a piece of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), specifically the Edmonton Stingers!
Last summer, Manjit, her brother, and their families caught a Stingers game and absolutely loved it. The energy was through the roof, and the game was top-notch.
“We loved the elite level of basketball play, we loved that it was family-friendly, and we left the game really energized for basketball in this province,” she told Global News.
“As we were on the way home, we thought: ‘Well, how do we get involved?’”
As they already had connections with the team’s former owners, they didn’t waste any time and got the ball rolling on joining the team’s ownership group.
“For us, it’s about diversity of ownerships and it’s about having something that young boys and girls can look up to, elite, right in their backyard,” Manjit said.
Teaming up with Taranvir (Tank) Vander and James Burns from the Stingers Entertainment Group, the Minhas siblings are all set to shake things up in the CEBL.
From Beer To Basketball
The two siblings are familiar with making big moves in Alberta.
The duo founded Minhas Breweries & Distilleries and created Boxer Lager, Lazy Mutt Ale and Mountain Crest beer brands.
All are highly successful endeavours, and the two hope to translate their savvy business knowledge to the basketball team’s management.
With 10 teams across Canada, the CEBL is on a roll, and the Minhas duo is all in on expanding the league, boosting Canadian talent, and spreading the word far and wide.
But it’s not just about the game for them. Manjit’s especially pumped about diving into the community and making a real impact.
She hopes to change the game regarding ownership diversity and give local kids some real homegrown heroes to cheer for.
Representation is key for her, and she’s all about showing young girls and boys that there are no limits to what they can achieve.
As for the Stingers and their fans, prepare for an even more electrifying atmosphere at the games.
The 2024 season kicks off on May 21st with a showdown against the Calgary Surge!
And make sure to attend their first home game on June 2nd against the Saskatchewan Rattlers.
The Minhas siblings are here to make the Stingers a team to watch and a community to be part of.
We’ll be crossing our fingers for a championship run!
Plus, just for the fans, the duo hinted at stepping up the game in the concessions department with some top-notch drinks, both boozy and non-alcoholic.
Cheers to that! Here’s to growing our basketball league and breaking ceilings.
