Latest news with #Surge2Stampede
Calgary Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
'Surreal night': Calgary takes down Alliance in historic Surge 2 Stampede victory at the Dome
Article content Calgarians came decked out by the thousands Wednesday evening for Surge 2 Stampede. Article content Some in western wear to salute 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth'. Article content Article content Others in Calgary Surge silks to support the Canadian Elite Basketball League franchise. Article content But make no mistake, it was a party like none other for the club and the circuit, hosted happily in collaboration with the Calgary Stampede at Scotiabank Saddledome. Article content Article content 'Surreal night,' said Surge co-owner Jason Ribiero, emotional in relishing the gala game that saw his charges score an 107-91 victory over the Montreal Alliance at the Dome amid the 6,954 fevered fans in attendance. 'The visuals are just unbelievable, with everyone in their best western wear mixed with their best jersey. Article content 'People were telling me that they'd come from all over the country to see the game, out-pacing every expectation we had.' Article content Perhaps they'd hoped for more in terms of attendance, aiming to rival the season opener last spring in their first visit to the Dome — a record-breaker for the CEBL with 12,327 fans on hand. Article content Article content However, the spirit and the atmosphere of the evening pushed the one-off affair to extraordinary heights. Article content 'It was kind of perfect the way it all played out Wednesday,' said CEBL commissioner Mike Morreale. 'I've kind of come to expect it from teams that over-deliver — Calgary being one of them. Article content Article content 'I was here last year for the home opener — over 12,000 fans. I would say (Wednesday) was better,' continued Morreale. 'There was less fans in the stands, but that didn't matter. I would say it really hit a home run. Article content 'When you do all the right things — all the little things correctly — eventually things prevail and karma comes to the forefront.' Article content They certainly got things done correctly on the floor, even though the visitors got the better the Surge early in the evening. Article content But that was forgotten as the western night wore on. Article content At halftime, the Calgary Stampede Showband took to the court, reminding all this was no ordinary Surge affair and that just outside the Dome doors 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth' was in full swing. Article content And then it was time for the Surge to put on a show of their own. Article content Down 62-49 at the intermission, the home Dome side stampeded out of the dressing room to make it a game. The Surge out-scored the Alliance 15-3 in the first five-plus minutes of the third quarter and made it a one-point game on three separate occasions.
Calgary Herald
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
'It means a lot': Calgarian Adelodun relishing Surge game during Calgary Stampede
Olumide Adelodun grew up with the Calgary Stampede in his backyard. Article content So the pomp and pageantry — along with the cowboy sizzle — surrounding 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth' doesn't faze the Calgary native and professional basketball talent. Article content But ask his Calgary Surge teammate Javonte Brown — a big city kid from out east —about the spectacle that is the Stampede, and it's quite a different take. Article content Article content 'I'm not gonna lie,' admitted Brown, standing with Adelodun amidst a western-garbed sea of people at the Stampede grounds. 'It completely caught me off-guard. Like it's a lot of people. It's huge — it's all over the city. Article content He'll likely love it even more come Wednesday night during Surge2Stampede — a home Canadian Elite Basketball League contest for Brown, Adelodun and the Surge hosted in collaboration with the Calgary Stampede at Scotiabank Saddledome. Article content Article content Indeed, the Surge (9-5) take on the visiting Montreal Alliance (6-7) with thousands of Stampeding Calgarians expected to take in the CEBL showcase at the Dome (7:30 p.m., TSN). Article content 'It means a lot,' said Adelodun, a graduate of Bishop O'Byrne Senior High School in the city's southwest. Article content 'I remember when I was younger with my mom and my brother going to watch a Calgary Flames game. Article content Article content So to be able to play in that arena is really interesting. Article content 'You know … it's a big opportunity. I'm really excited.' Article content Last year, the Surge drew a league-record 12,327 fans to the home of the hockey Flames in a one-off game. Article content But this year's first of two Dome home tilts for the Calgary club gets the backing of the Stampede, with the likelihood of a dang fine walk-up crowd helping to fill seats on Family Day at the midway. Article content Article content 'Stampede is a staple in Calgary,' said 22-year-old Adelodun. 'When I was younger, I used to just always come here with my family. Article content 'My main thing is the food — I've got a lot of interest in the food here,' continued Adelodun. 'But … really … it's just the atmosphere here — you see the cowboys, you see the rodeo and all that. It's just a lot of stuff that you can really just get into and is just really interesting. Article content 'So it is just kind of cool being able to know that I'll play in front of everyone in the Calgary Stampede.'
Calgary Herald
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Calgary's CEBL ballers Surge into top spot with home win over Bandits
Never mind Surge2Red Deer or Surge2Stampede. Article content The Calgary Surge might well be remembering Surge2TheTopOfTheCEBL as their most pivotal showcase of the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League campaign. Article content Article content That's because that game Sunday afternoon at WinSport Event Centre — a convincing 100-83 win over the visiting Vancouver Bandits — could well have a long-lasting effect on their season. Article content Article content In a battle between the Western Conference's top two teams, the Surge victory vaults the team atop the CEBL standings at 8-3, winning both meetings with their rivals from the West Coast so far this season. Article content Article content The second loss to the Calgary crew marks the first time the Bandits have lost consecutive games this year and snaps a four-game winning streak on the road. Article content Both squads were coming off losses to Western Conference rivals heading into Sunday's clash at WinSport, but a massive 33-13 second quarter propelled the Surge to a comfortable win. Article content After allowing 31 points in the first quarter, Calgary head coach Kaleb Canales said the team got back to its bread and butter. 'In the team huddle, we just kept talking about (how) our brand of basketball is defence to offence,' Canales told 'We had to get more activity on the ball and our weak side tighter. And I thought the guys did a great job of executing the gameplan.' Article content Article content Six Surge players scored in double figures, with Greg Brown III's 24 points leading the way. The NBA-experienced forward scored the Target Score Winner at the line and added eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. Article content Brown felt the Surge were already the best team in the league before Sunday's win. Article content 'We already beat Vancouver the first time by 15,' Brown said. 'Now we beat them by 20. We showed we're the best team in the league.' Article content Sean Miller-Moore tallied 20 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Surge while Olumide Adelodun netted 17 off the bench. Jameer Nelson Jr., Khyri Thomas, and Javonté Brown rounded out the home-side attack with 11 points apiece. Article content As a team, the Calgary squad dished 29 assists while winning the battles on the fastbreak and in the paint. The Surge were a menace on defence as well, forcing 29 turnovers — including 14 steals — and blocking six shots.
Calgary Herald
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Surge takes to the court at Saddledome during Stampede
Article content The Calgary Surge didn't want to be left on the sidelines for the Calgary Stampede and announced they would be playing a game at the Saddledome during the 10-day event. Article content The Surge will be hosting the Montreal Alliance at the Saddledome on July 9 at 7:30 p.m., the Stampede and the CEBL announced Thursday. Article content 'The Calgary Stampede is all about bringing people together through unforgettable experiences,' says Allison Wright, director of Stampede programming at the Calgary Stampede. Article content Article content 'What better way to do that than by introducing live professional basketball to Stampede Park—in a way that only the Stampede can deliver.' Article content Article content The game will be happening during BMO Kids' Day and the game will focus on family fun and community celebration. Article content 'The reverence we have for the Calgary Stampede and its ability to create community runs deep, so to be partnering this early in our journey is a milestone moment for our company,' says Jason Ribeiro, Surge vice-chairman. Article content 'With Surge2TheDome, Surge2RedDeer, and now Surge2Stampede, our feet are firmly planted as live event operators, and we look forward to bringing even more communities together around sports, arts and culture,' said Ribeiro, who's also president and co-founder of REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. Article content Game tickets will start at $35 for the upper bowl and $45 for the lower bowl (plus applicable fees and taxes), include admission to Stampede Park for the entire day on July 9, giving fans the chance to explore the rides, food, music, and entertainment of the Calgary Stampede before heading to the Saddledome for tip-off. Article content
