Latest news from аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼

11 Jul 2014

аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ to provide home venue for Leicester Riders

аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Sports Scholar Jamell Anderson – pic by Ville Vuorinen.

Leicester Riders and аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ have agreed a partnership that will see all Riders British Basketball League (BBL) home games return to the University for the 2014/15 season.

This agreement will see both the Leicester Riders BBL teams play on campus for a single season ahead of moving into a new venue for the 2015/16 season.

Russell Levenston, Managing Director of the Leicester Riders, is excited about the possibilities аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ holds for the upcoming season.

“The Riders have an historic link with аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ and we are all looking forward to returning to the University for a season.

“The Leicester Riders are extremely grateful to аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ for stepping in to assist us during the 2014/15 season and would like to thank all involved.

“We are working closely with them to ensure we maximise the opportunities for the students and staff throughout the coming year. We look forward to a successful season ahead.”

The announcement is the latest development between the Riders and the University, following the launch of the аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Basketball Programme back in 2011.

The programme, a partnership between the Riders, University, аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ College and аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Students’ Union, has created a player pathway and academic opportunity for talented basketball players.

It has also seen the Riders utilise facilities at the University and College for training sessions and events including recruitment days.

Professor Robert Allison, Vice Chancellor of аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼, commented:

“At аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ we are renowned for sport. Therefore it was appropriate action for us to take to provide the Riders, one of the best known and most successful sporting teams in Leicestershire, with a home venue for next season.

“Not only will this agreement build on our existing partnership with the Riders, it will also give our students, staff and local community the opportunity to watch top flight basketball on our campus.”

Cllr Piara Singh-Clair, Assistant City Mayor for Culture, Leisure and Sport added:

"We are very grateful to аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ for giving the Leicester Riders a home for the next season while we continue to work with them to secure a permanent home for the club here in the city."

The Leicester Riders will begin the BBL regular season against Manchester Giants on 27th September at аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼.

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 14/140

аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It was awarded the coveted Sunday Times University of the Year title in 2008-09 and has been named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

Contact for all media enquiries

Rob Knott
Sport PR Officer
аÄÃŲÊÀúÊ·¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Unioversity
T: 01509 228686
E: R.A.Knott@lboro.ac.uk