This story was updated at 9 a.m. Oct. 21 with new information on negotiations with the Albany School District.
After hosting team tryouts and a kids camp for local youth over the weekend of Oct. 12-13, the owner of a professional minor league basketball organization approached the Philomath City Council this past Monday with details about plans to move out of Eugene and into the mid-valley.
Marion Clark, who established the team in 2023, announced that the Emerald City Jaguars will be renamed Willamette Valley Jaguars and said the franchise is in negotiations with the Philomath School District to possibly host some home games in the high school gym.
Clark said he was also talking with the Albany School District as a possible game site.
“The goal behind our organization is to be a community asset for all,” he said. “Most of our missions revolve around youth athletics but also mentorship, leadership and helping kids reach their full potential.”
Clark said one of the goals he has for Philomath and other mid-valley cities is to build more facilities to give kids more access to community activities and athletics.
“I’m a firm believer that every city should have their own community center where they can run and expand on programs and give youth the chance to develop and things of that nature,” he said.
Philomath has a similar organization, the Philomath Youth Activities Club, that has a similar mission that revolves around positive youth development.
As far as basketball, the Jaguars are one of more than 30 teams that play in the TBL, which stands for The Basketball League, with a season that operates during the spring.
Clark mentioned that all kids ages 12 and under get into Jaguars games free, saying, “We’re all about access and affordability.”
Clark spoke to the council during the public comments portion of the Oct. 14 meeting.
