Beaumont Panthers guard Kenan Williams (5) shoots ove a couple the Sugarland Imperials at Ford Park in Beaumont, TX. Photo taken February 26, 2022 by Jarrod Brown
Jarrod Brown

Another professional sports franchise is leaving Beaumont, at least for now.

The Beaumont Panthers, a professional basketball team brought to the city last year by owners Jay McDonald and NBA champion Kendrick Perkins, has been relocated to El Reno, Oklahoma for this season.

McDonald told the Enterprise on Friday that a lack of sponsors and stability for its home venue in Beaumont led to the relocation. However, the goal is to bring the team back to Beaumont whenever those issues get resolved, he said.

"Beaumont is where we want to be, but we just couldn't sustain it here right now," McDonald said.

The team, which plays in The Basketball League, will now go by the name "Oklahoma Panthers" for the remainder of this season. They've played four games so far this season, with their next contest scheduled for tonight against the Rockwall 76ers.

During his interview with the Enterprise, McDonald detailed the process that led up to the Panthers' relocation. More information from that interview will be included in a story to be published in the coming days.

A documentary on the team's first season is also still in the works, McDonald said.

MFaye@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/mattGfaye