CEBL, Montréal Alliance to Stage Canada’s First 5x5 Outdoor Pro Basketball Game at IGA Stadium

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) has shown throughout its existence that its commitment to delivering a new basketball experience has no ceiling. The sky will truly be the limit when the inaugural CEBL Summer Classic debuts May 23 in Montréal with the first 5x5 outdoor pro basketball game in Canadian history. The Montréal Alliance will host the Ottawa BlackJacks under the stars at IGA Stadium in what the Alliance is billing as Éclipse: Match Sous les Étoiles.

The historic evening will be televised nationally on TSN and RDS beginning at 8 p.m. ET. It will be the first of four regular season matchups between the Eastern Conference rivals in 2025.

“Our league and our teams continue to deliver unique, innovative experiences for basketball fans across the country. The first Canadian 5x5 outdoor pro basketball game in Montréal this summer will perfectly exemplify this commitment,” said Mike Morreale, Commissioner and Co-Founder of the CEBL. “IGA Stadium is a world-class facility and the ideal venue to host this historic game, where Montréal and Ottawa will ignite their rivalry under the stars.”

The CEBL Summer Classic is the latest innovation by the league that in its six seasons has been known to deliver world class pro basketball in unique ways. The CEBL became the first pro league in the world to adopt the target score ending for all games, the first pro league in Canada to play with FIBA rules, and features numerous elements that make CEBL basketball especially appealing to fans and elite players from around the world. The concept of playing games outdoors has been under consideration by the league since it launched in 2019, and Montréal’s new ownership group of Joel Anthony, Léo Bouisson, and Ian-Philip Paul-Hus embraced the concept and committed to bringing it to life.

“When we launched the Alliance, our goal was to bring something unique to Montréal,” said Joel Anthony, Co-Owner and General Manager of the Montréal Alliance. “This game under the stars embodies that—an experience that goes beyond sport, writing our team into the history of Canadian basketball. We are proud to break conventions and offer fans an evening that pays tribute to this incredible city.”

The Alliance has played at Verdun Auditorium since the team launched in 2022. The Éclipse: Match Sous les Étoiles at IGA Stadium will feature a capacity of 11,500 seats. Fans looking to be part of Canadian basketball history can secure tickets now starting at $25 plus taxes and fees via ticketmaster.ca. For more information, please visit alliancemontreal.ca/en-ca/eclipse.

The seventh season of the CEBL tips off May 11 when the Calgary Surge travel to Edmonton to take on the Stingers in the Battle of Alberta. A total of 127 regular season games fill the 2025 campaign, leading to playoffs that begin August 14. Championship Weekend, which features the league’s top four teams during the regular season vying for the league title, will be held at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, August 22-24.

Season tickets and flex packs are now available league wide with priority seating access and preferred pricing. Ticket information for all CEBL games can be found at cebl.ca/tickets and cebl.ca/cw25/tickets.

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About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.