There was a lot of buzz and excitement back in 2005 when the ABA Buffalo Rapids debuted here in Buffalo, giving the city its first pro hoops team since the NBA Braves departed in 1978.

But that excitement quickly disappeared as the team became enmeshed in cash flow and other operational problems, none more glaring than the team’s inability to secure a permanent venue to call home. The team moved from the Burt Flickinger Center to the Park School, Niagara Catholic, Buff State Sports Arena, Hilbert College and even the Gow School. Disgruntled fans, unable to find where to go from game to game, quickly bailed on the team. The owners left, new owners took over, the team was renamed the Silverbacks, and naysayers then threw ridiculous charges of racism against the team, citing the franchise logo bearing the image of a black gorilla.

This past season the franchise was inactive, but now the ABA is back, with a new nickname, new ownership, and returning is their former coach Rich Jacob, who held the team together through its darkest days and actually fielded a respectable squad despite all the off the court chaos and distractions. This time they are promising to make it work.

“We’re very excited” said Coach Jacob, who was on hand tonight as the “Buffalo Sharks” held a kick off party at Club Infinity in Clarence to welcome their supporters and start up season ticket sales.

The Sharks will play their home games at the Koessler Center on the Canisius College campus, and, as if to prove that there will be no repeat of the venue hopping which marred the franchise’s inaugural season, there was a certified letter on Canisius letterhead laminated and on display at the season ticket table, validating the secured agreement between the franchise and the college to host the home games of the Sharks. Officials from the College were also on hand tonight to welcome supporters and make themselves available for questions.

Owner Vincent Lesh has been a long time music and concert promoter here in Buffalo, and for him this is his first foray into sports management. “One thing I know how to do is put people into seats, and we’re going to promote the heck out of this team and bring basketball fans out to see this team” promised Lesh. Sharks season tickets run from $225 for courtside seats down to $75 for general admission, based on an 18 game home schedule. Lesh also stated that once up and running, tickets will be available at ticketmaster outlets and online at ticketmaster.com.

Lesh admitted that the Rapids/Silverbacks business model was a disaster from the get go. “I have no bad feelings towards the Nice’s or the Weir’s (former team owners) but their way of doing business is out the window. We’re going to run things differently to make things work.” Jacob added, “We have the experience now and know what worked and what didn’t so hopefully the benefit of that experience will pay dividends.”

The Sharks will have competition for the WNY pro hoops audience. Three weeks ago a competing ownership group unveiled the debut of the Buffalo Dragons, who will join the Premier Basketball League and play its games at the Flickinger Center downtown. The Dragons have come up with a unique business plan, intending to field a team of Chinese players and video stream its games into China.

We asked both Lesh and Jacob if this city can support two minor league basketball teams. Both chose their words carefully in their reply. “They are going to have their thing and we are going to have ours” said Lesh. “We have already signed up major sponsors, including Labatt and Met Life, who believe in our product and know we can develop and grow a fan base.” Jacob was proudly showing off some of his newly recruited players at tonight’s event. “These are young men who will have a connection to the community.”

So how did the “Sharks” nickname come to be? Lesh laughed and replied. “We had a sponsorship deal in place that involved the name and that fell through. But we liked the nickname and it stuck.”

The team has a web site, that for now is nothing more than their snazzy logo.

Remember that night back in 2005 when close to 4000 fans packed the Flickinger Center for the inaugural game of the ABA Rapids? The game was delayed for over an hour as fans stood in a massive line outside the venue to check in through one available metal detector. “Those fans are still out there in the community, and we want to win them back” said Jacob.

The 2008-09 Sharks season begins in mid November, with the schedule to be announced later this summer.

-Andrew Kulyk