The NBA Development League’s Erie franchise, which is set to begin play in 2008-09, today announced it would be known as the BayHawks. Majority owner and Managing Partner Steve Demetriou and lead local Owner Owen J. McCormick were on hand for the announcement of the name and the unveiling of both primary and secondary logos for the BayHawks franchise.

“This team is going to be something special for the citizens of Erie,” said Demetriou. “We’re going to deliver great family entertainment and a high level of competitive basketball, and we now have a great name and logo to go along with that.”
Named for Erie landmark Presque Isle Bay and the hawks that inhabit Presque Isle State Park, the BayHawks logo consists of a black bodied hawk with a red head, gold beak and gold claws, soaring with wings spread in front of a gold basketball. “Erie” is arched above the ball and “BayHawks” adorns the bird’s wings. BayHawks staff greeted season-ticket holders at the Erie Maritime Museum in front of the U.S. Bridge Niagara for the unveiling, handing out t-shirts adorned with the BayHawks logo.

"We are extremely excited about the newly-christened Erie BayHawks, who are a symbol of the NBA D-League's continued growth in 2008-09 after a season of record-breaking ticket sales and attendance figures", said NBA D-League President, Dan Reed. “With today's unveiling of their name and logo, the BayHawks are truly ready to fly with the NBA D-League.”

Erie is one of two new expansion markets, along with Reno, Nev. set to begin play in the NBA D-League during the 2008-09 season. The two new franchises bring the NBA D-League’s total to 16. NBA affiliations will be determined at a later date. Erie will be associated with either two or three NBA teams that can assign their first and second-year players to their affiliate a maximum of three times per season. The 2007-08 NBA season saw over 30 players assigned from the NBA to the D-League, including over 30 percent of the 2007 NBA Draft class, giving young players a chance to further develop through valuable playing time.

Games will be played at Louis J. Tullio Arena.

Source: NBA D-League

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