The Canadian Elite Basketball League announced it will be suspending operations of its franchise in St. John’s.

The League says they would love to play in the province, but they need a major spectator facility in order to do so.

Commissioner and co-founder of the CELB, Mike Morreale says they appreciate efforts to host games this season at the MUN Field House, however, “the lack of amenities required by a professional league at the level of the CEBL have proven to be untenable.”

Morreale says they appreciate efforts by Dean MacDonald, the staff at Deacon Sports and Entertainment and Memorial University as they did the best they could under last-minute and difficult circumstances.

He says the CEBL would consider resuming operations in St. John’s should an opportunity under better circumstances present itself in the future.