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Semi-pro Hudson Valley Rivermen to base team in Sullivan County, organizers say; plan youth clinics and community outreach
Summary
Organizers for the ABA Hudson Valley Rivermen told county legislators they will base the franchise in Sullivan County, hold tryouts and run youth clinics; they asked for local promotion while feasibility-material availability for a sports center was queried by committee members.
Organizers for the American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise the Hudson Valley Rivermen told the Sullivan County Economic Development Committee they plan to base the team in Sullivan County and run games, clinics and community engagement this summer and into the official ABA season.
Gary Brill, who identified himself with the Hudson Valley Rivermen franchise, said the team will use Fallsburg School District facilities and has already signed multiple players. "We are bringing the Rivermen basketball to Sullivan County," Brill said, and noted tryouts were scheduled "on the eighteenth of this month."
Brill and coach Curtis Brock said the team intends to provide affordable entertainment and youth clinics, and that players will be required under contract to engage with community programs. "One thing we wanna do with the Rivermen is not only bring affordable entertainment to the county and to the county residents, but we also wanna do clinics for the county's youth," Brill said. Coach Curtis Brock described the initiative as a chance to rebuild competitive sports in the county and to bring positive activities for young people.
Organizers said they are not focused on making a profit in the first year and that they were considering waiving admission fees to encourage attendance. "As a matter of fact, Naomi and I are discussing behind the doors. We don't even wanna charge anybody to get in," Brill said.
Brill said the team is exploring a sanctioned ABA summer tournament using local college facilities and is discussing hotel discounts with the Sullivan County Visitors Association to host visiting teams. He also said he and his team are talking with regional ABA owners and expect interest from teams across the Northeast.
A committee member asked whether a recently submitted feasibility study for a county sports center had been received; staff said they had not yet reviewed the report and agreed to provide a copy or update in a future meeting. The transcript indicates organizers and county staff expect to coordinate promotion; the committee suggested county media staff assist with outreach.
Committee members offered supportive comments and asked county communications staff to help with publicity. Organizers said they had been circulating flyers and contacting radio stations to promote tryouts and clinics across the county.
