The Utah Eagles of the Continental Basketball Association will officially cease operations as of Thursday.
The announcement came Tuesday from Eagles public relations manager Derrick Pearson.
The ability to remain in the market was first questioned when the Eagles lost their local financial backing just seven days before the season began, thus turning the Eagles over to the league with thoughts of finding other local funding at a later date.
That date came and passed leaving the CBA no other choice but to close down operations.
"This is an unfortunate turn of events for the Utah Eagles and the CBA as a whole," said Apex Sportstainment CEO Joe Clark. "We have made every effort to do the right thing in Utah and we are saddened that it has come to this. We still maintain the rights to the Utah franchise and we will be moving the franchise to a new location for the 2007-08 season. This announcement will be upcoming in the near future."
The CBA schedule will remain, with the outstanding Utah games being played by the remaining seven franchises. The updated schedule and the results of a dispersal draft will be announced on Thursday. That dispersal draft will send existing Eagles players throughout the CBA.
"I was disappointed that the Utah Eagles have to discontinue playing this season," said Ralph Sampson, chairman of the Overall Economic Committee of the Yakama Nation, owner of the CBA defending champion Yakama Sun Kings.
"The Utah Eagles' situation was a precarious one from the start and Apex Sportstainment has done an admirable job to get them this far. While it is too bad that they have to fold, the CBA will continue and will strive to do what is best for the fans now and in the future."
There is no word at this point for future plans of bringing another CBA franchise to Salt Lake City.
E-mail: bhedin@desnews.com