At a February 3 press conference, the Vancouver Bandits and the City of Kelowna announced that the club will host its first neutral-site home game in franchise history when it faces the Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club on Saturday, June 6, at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
This Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) matchup will serve as the marquee event of Kelowna HOOPFEST, a new basketball festival presented in partnership with the City of Kelowna, celebrating basketball at every level. Kelowna HOOPFEST will feature the Vancouver Bandits vs. Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club, a youth 5x5 tournament, a coaching clinic, and additional programming to be announced.
"This is a historic moment for our club and for professional basketball in British Columbia,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “Bringing our first neutral-site home game to Kelowna as part of Kelowna HOOPFEST is about growing the game and connecting with new communities.”
The multi-day event represents an important step in expanding the reach of both professional basketball and the CEBL across Canada. Kelowna HOOPFEST also reflects the City of Kelowna’s continued investment in hosting major sporting events that strengthen connection, inspire youth participation, and drive economic impact.
“Kelowna is excited to host the Vancouver Bandits and Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club at Prospera Place,” said Mayor Tom Dyas. “Kelowna continues to build its reputation as a premier event-hosting city, and we are proud to welcome the Canadian Elite Basketball League to our community. The first-ever Kelowna Hoopfest and surrounding events will bring people to our city, support local businesses, and provide a boost to our local economy.”
Pictured (left to right): City Councillors, Mohini Singh, Maxine DeHart, Loyal Wooldridge, and Rick Webber; Bandits Head Coach, Kyle Julius; Bandits Team President, Dylan Kumar; City Councillor, Ron Cannan; Tourism Kelowna's Director of Marketing & Communications, Chris Shauf.
"Attracting new sporting events is an important priority for the City, and we’re proud to partner with them to identify and bid on events that draw people to our community, especially in those months where we have room to grow. Together, we work as teammates to identify and execute a play so Kelowna can score another win to bring these events here," said Tourism Kelowna Director of Marketing & Communications, Chris Shauf. "It’s not only economic impact and community pride that grow from events like Kelowna HOOPFEST. Through these events, future athletes are introduced to sport or develop their skills. It’s sometimes harder to see the impact of those important legacy moments, but they are there because of events like this."
“Bringing high-energy basketball from some of Canada’s most dynamic players into our communities across the country is what defines our league,” said CEBL President Tyler Mazereeuw. “The Vancouver Bandits will be turning Kelowna into a multi-day Canadian Elite Basketball League experience, giving residents of Kelowna a firsthand look at the energy and passion that is driving our rapidly growing fanbase from coast to coast.”
Tickets for Vancouver Bandits vs. Saskatchewan Professional Basketball Club at Kelowna HOOPFEST are on sale now. Additional details surrounding Kelowna HOOPFEST programming will be announced in the coming weeks.
About the Vancouver Bandits:
The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (LEC), while also being committed to growing the game of basketball by fostering meaningful community connections through youth programming, events, and partnerships.
About the CEBL:
The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, with 10 member clubs across six provinces. Blending global innovation with local connection, the league is redefining how the game is played and experienced while rooting its teams deeply in communities coast to coast. With a fan base of 4.1 million Canadians – up 57 per cent since 2022 – the CEBL has cultivated Canada’s youngest basketball audience, with more than half of its fans aged 34 or younger. Its rapid growth reflects its ability to connect authentically with a new generation of basketball fans while expanding the sport’s cultural footprint nationwide.
In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian – the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. To date, nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following CEBL seasons, which run from May through August. Visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on social media.
Some of the content above was sourced from the CEBL news release.