First AGBL Season Continues
- Written by Chase Martin
- Read 254 times
[dropcap color=red cap=O]n September, 23 2010, the Austin Gay Basketball League (AGBL) made history when it kicked off its Fall 2010 Season, becoming the first gay basketball league in the city of Austin and the state of Texas. The inaugural season is comprised of five teams that are made up of players without regard to gender, sexual orientation or sexual identity, including: 1) the Blaze; 2) the Blue Devils, sponsored by Oilcan Harry’s; 3) the Comets, sponsored by Schulze & Associates; 4) the Vipers; and 5) the Yellow Jackets, sponsored by Rain on 4th.[/dropcap]
Founded in February 2010, the AGBL was created to offer a welcoming environment to all LGBT people and their allies who are interested in playing basketball, building friendships, and giving back to Austin's community and to promote an athletic environment free of discrimination. The first pick-up game was held March 28, 2010 at the basketball courts near Walnut Creek Park with 6 attendees, 4 male and 2 female. Since then, the AGBL has seen rapid growth and continues to add new members each month.
The Fall 2010 Season continues this Thursday, October 14, 2010 at the Austin Sports Center at 425 Woodward St., Austin, TX. This week the Blaze take on the Vipers at 7 PM, and the Comets take on the Blue Devils at 8 PM. This week’s post-game event will be at Oilcan Harry’s 211 W 4th Street, Austin, Texas starting at 9:30 PM. All players in their team jerseys and fans in league t-shirts get drink specials ($2.50 wells/$3 domestics) for the night. League t-shirts will be available at the games and at the post-game event for $12 (cash only). All games and events are free and open to the public.
In addition to the Fall 2010 Season, the AGBL also sponsors the AGBL Flames, a select team comprised of players from within the AGBL, that represents the league in external events including traveling to basketball tournaments across the nation to represent the Austin LGBT community. The AGBL Flames first played in Austin’s Capital City Basketball League’s Summer 2010 Season winning their division championship with an undefeated 8-0 season.
The Flames are currently playing the a higher division in the City League’s Fall 2010 Season (09/20/10 – 11/29/10) and are currently undefeated at 3-0. The Flames play every Monday at the Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center at 7500 Blessing Ave, Austin, Texas. They play next against the NI Hawks on Monday, October 18, 2010, at 8 PM. Times vary from week to week, so check the AGBL website for details on specific upcoming games.
The Fall 2010 Season is sponsored by Oilcan Harry’s, PlanetChase, Presidio Group, Rain on 4th, Schulze & Associates and Southside Flying Pizza.
For more information about the AGBL including a schedule for the upcoming Fall 2010 season and the AGBL Flames, visit the website at www.atxgbl.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Chase Martin
Creative Director & Founder, therepubliq.com
Director, Marketing/Promotions & Co-Founder, The OUTlander Project
Producer, OutCast Austin
Austin, Texas
Chase is the founder and Creative Director of therepubliq.com and co-founder and Director, Marketing & Promotions of The OUTlander Project. He is also a producer and engineer for OutCast Austin, an award-winning LGBT weekly radio program on KOOP 91.7 FM in Austin. In 2011, he was named the Critics Pick for 'Most Gaybiquitous' in the Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin.
Additionally, Chase runs PlanetChase, LLC, a consulting firm providing a variety of business development services including web development, marketing, branding, technology to small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs; as well as meeting planning services for the financial services industry.
On his spare time, Chase has volunteered with local organizations including AIDS Services of Austin, the Octopus Club, the Austin Gay Basketball League and Volleyball Austin. In 2007, he was appointed by then-Austin Mayor Will Wynn to serve on the Austin Area Comprehensive HIV Planning Council where he served as the chairperson of the Community Access & Nominations committee.