Winnipeg to host 2025 CEBL championship game

Winnipeg will host next year’s Canadian Elite Basketball League championship weekend.

The basketball final will take place at Canada Life Centre in August 2025, where the league winner will be crowned.

The event is being supported by $1 million from the Manitoba government. It will include a league awards ceremony and live musical performances.

“The addition of the Sea Bears to our provincial landscape has been such an amazing success, the in-game experience is awesome,” said CEBL commissioner and league co-founder Mike Morreale.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears joined the CEBL last year, setting a single-game attendance record – both in the regular season and the playoffs – and a full-season attendance record.

Sea Bears team president Jason Smith says the fan support last season is a big reason why Winnipeg was chosen for the 2025 championship weekend.

“I think it’s a real testament as well of how much we can show the CEBL that we are a franchise that I think can pull this off and that we can do it very well,” Smith said.

Tourism Winnipeg forecasts the economic impact exceeding $5 million while supporting more than 1,300 jobs.

“I’m excited for the future of basketball in Manitoba as a result of the Sea Bears and the future of kids as their relationship with basketball grows inevitably,” said Manitoba Minister of Health Uzoma Asagwara.

Winnipeg is also hosting the CFL Grey Cup in 2025.

“In Winnipeg, we are excellent hosts when it comes to events or professional sports championships,” Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said. “2025 is going to be a excellent year for Winnipeg.”