Bakersfield loses jam as team ceases operations

The Bakersfield Jam announced yesterday that the organization will cease operations, effective immediately.

The decision from owners Stan Ellis and David Higdon to shut down the team was announced to the Jam front office staff Wednesday afternoon. “It’s not a reflection on the economy”, Ellis said. “Our other businesses are doing very well. It’s simply this: we have other business opportunities out there that are scary phenomenal – they’re great. There is so much more potential in those businesses that it’s not fair to the other 300 people we employ to continue to incur the losses of the Jam.”

Ellis continued, “When you have bad business deals that start to go south, you cut your losses and go on to the next one. This is a simple business decision.” When commenting on the move to cease operations, Higdon echoed Ellis. “No one has told us we made a bad business decision.”

Jam head coach Scott Roth, who led the Jam to their first winning season (26-24 record) and a playoff berth this year mentioned low attendance as the driving force in the owner’s decision. “I don’t think fans ever caught on to the Jam. With that talent level that was in our arena on a nightly basis, if you’re not getting 1,500 to an NBADL game then you have a problem.”

The 2008-09 Jam season enjoyed many highlights that included guard Trey Johnson getting two, 10-day Gatorade Call-ups to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Also, Johnson and fellow guard Derrick Byars were selected to the NBAD League All-Star west team. Johnson was also selected to the 1^st Team All NBAD League Showcase team, and he and Byars were selected to the NBAD League All League second team, while center Nick Lewis was selected to the NBAD League Honorable Mention team.

Byars also set individual, single-season records in scoring (884) and minutes played (1,918), while Lewis set single-season records in rebounds (368) and games played (51), sharing that honor with forward Terrance Thomas. Jam guard Mateen Cleaves set the single-season assist record this year (297).

Giving local TV interviews in the back of the Jam’s brand new, state-of-the-art practice facility, Ellis spoke fondly of his involvement with the community over the last three years. “While we didn’t get the fan support needed to sustain operations here, David and I were fortunate to meet so many wonderful people that we may not have met otherwise. Because of that we’ll be renting our practice facility to youth organizations and other interested parties that need the space.”

Ellis and Higdon will now direct their attention to their existing business portfolio and their new acquisitions in the clean tech/renewable energy sector.