Canada’s first-ever professional outdoor basketball game in Montreal postponed at halftime
Posted May 22, 2025 3:53 pm.
Last Updated May 26, 2025 11:18 am.
The Canadian Elite Basketball League’s outdoor Summer Classic was postponed at halftime Sunday with the Montreal Alliance leading the visiting Ottawa BlackJacks 52-29 at IGA Stadium.
The league said technical issues related to event staging caused by inclement weather led to the decision.
The Alliance said as temperatures dropped, condensation formed on the court, which creating a slippery surface.
“After a thorough discussion between both teams, coaches, general managers and the CEBL Commissioner, the decision was made to end the game early, prioritizing player safety,” the team said in a news release.
The CEBL league office said it will determine the official outcome of the game in the next few days. The options are rescheduling the second half of the encounter, confirming the halftime result, or replaying the fixture.
The Alliance says more than 9,300 fans attended the first-ever professional outdoor basketball game in Canada — even though they only got to watch one half.
“Of course, we all wanted to play the full game. But player safety always comes first,” said Jo-Annie Charbonneau, president of the Montreal Alliance. “What we experienced tonight was nothing short of incredible. The crowd was on fire, our athletes were phenomenal, and even though the ending was unusual, I truly believe this was a success.”
The match had already been postponed once already. It was initially scheduled to take place Friday, but was moved because of rain.
“With the threat of inclement weather on Friday and Saturday, rescheduling the game to Sunday ensures a safe, enjoyable experience for Canada’s first outdoor pro basketball game and allows the event to live up to its full potential,” said Mike Morreale, commissioner and co-founder of the CEBL.
The idea of playing games outdoors has been under consideration by the league since it launched in 2019, and Montréal’s new ownership group of Joel Anthony, Léo Bouisson, and Ian-Philip Paul-Hus embraced the concept and committed to bringing it to life.
