Pro basketball returns to Moncton — again. Fourth attempt in 14 years

Men's professional basketball is returning to Moncton. 

The Tri-City Tide, which will represent Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview, is the fourth attempt at pro ball in the area since 2011. 

The Tri-City Tide is part of the Basketball League, known as TBL and mostly made up of U.S.-based teams. The other Canadian team is Halifax.

Saint John was expected to also join the league, but in a social media post on Jan. 27, Port City Power owner Jamie Dobbelsteyn said the team would not be participating in the upcoming season as planned. 

"Despite our best efforts, we faced financial challenges and unmet business expectations that have led us to make this difficult decision."

They plan to explore "new opportunities to bring basketball back to Saint John in a stronger and more sustainable way," Dobbelsteyn wrote.

Tri-City Tide owner Dustin Caissie said this time will be different. 

He said the league's franchise fees and rules aren't as onerous as with leagues in the past. Plus, a smaller venue, Crandall University, helps keep the costs down. 

And so far, community support has been encouraging. 

"I know we've only had a preseason game, an inner-squad game, but a lot of people are appreciative of what they're seeing," said Caissie. 

He said he was "delighted" with the attendance. 

"I think it just showed that people are interested in seeing what's going on. There was a couple hundred people there, and then the preseason game, we were really impressed," Caissie.

"There was, I think, 250 to 300 people who showed up to that game and they packed the gym, and you could feel it in the atmosphere that people are excited to be there and see basketball back." 

Cassie said he built the team with a focus on picking local players first, "and then