Columbus Horizon
| Columbus Horizon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| League | CBA 1989-1999 | ||
| Founded | 1990 | ||
| Folded | 1999 | ||
| History |
Sarasota Stingers 1983-1985 Florida Stingers 1985-1986 Charleston Gunners 1986-1989 Columbus Horizon 1989-1994 Shreveport Crawdads 1994-1995 Columbus Cagers 1996-1999 |
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| Arena | Ohio Expo Center Coliseum | ||
| Location | Columbus, Ohio | ||
| Team colors | Yellow and black | ||
| Ownership | Eli Jacobson | ||
| Championships | 0 | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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The Columbus Horizon is a defunct basketball team from Columbus, Ohio that played for ten seasons in the Continental Basketball Association from 1989 - 1999.
Plans to bring professional basketball to Columbus were unveiled in September 1988 and the Horizon began playing in November 1989 at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum, where the franchise had a five-year lease. Owner Eli Jacobson had previously owned the Pensacola Tornados and was able attract Pensacola veterans Gary Youmans and Tim Sise to Columbus as coach and General Manager respectively. Jacobsen was also a member of the league's Expansion and Rules Committees. Jacobsen told the press conference that the Horizon would become involved in the Central Ohio community and said the economic impact on Columbus would be to the tune $3–$4 million generated back into the city each year. CBA Commissioner Jay Ramsdell said Columbus had all the elements to be a winning CBA franchise. Despite the team bearing the name Columbus, team officials said they wanted the franchise to become a hometown favorite throughout the entire Central Ohio area. The Houston Rockets agreed to be the club's NBA affiliate.
Jay Ramsdell was on his way from the CBA league office in Denver, Colorado to Columbus for the 1989 College Player Draft when his United Airlines Flight 232 plane crashed in Sioux City, Iowa on July 19, 1989. A close friend of Eli Jacobsen, he was instrumental in laying the groundwork which eventually led to the granting of a CBA franchise for Columbus.
The Horizon was placed in the four-team National Conference Eastern Division by the CBA. Veteran CBA coach Gary Youmans was put in charge. Youmans, who previously coached the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets and was general manager of the Tampa Bay Thrillers, was an Ashland College graduate. Tim Sise, who had worked with Youmans as part of the Pensacola Tornados franchise, was appointed General Manager.
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