Latest news from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ
11 Jul 2014
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ to provide home venue for Leicester Riders
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Sports Scholar Jamell Anderson – pic by Ville Vuorinen.
Leicester Riders and º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ holds for the upcoming season.
“The Riders have an historic link with º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and we are all looking forward to returning to the University for a season.
“The Leicester Riders are extremely grateful to º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Basketball Programme back in 2011.
The programme, a partnership between the Riders, University, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ College and º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, commented:
“At º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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 º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ.
Notes for editors
Article reference number: PR 14/140
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ 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
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Unioversity
T: 01509 228686
E: R.A.Knott@lboro.ac.uk