FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Who are the Winnipeg Sea Bears?
The Winnipeg Sea Bears joined the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) as an expansion franchise in 2023. The city's only professional basketball team plays out of Canada Life Centre from May to August in a 24-game regular season schedule. Winnipeg businessman and lawyer, David Asper, is the organization's owner and chairman. More information on the Sea Bears can be found at seabears.ca and @wpgseabears on Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn & Facebook.
Q. What is the Canadian Elite Basketball League?
The Canadian Elite Basketball League is Canada’s largest professional sports league and the only professional basketball league in North America affiliated with FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, and Canada Basketball. Founded in 2017 and beginning play in 2019, the CEBL is basketball’s version of the Canadian Football League, playing one tier below the NBA.
A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75 per cent of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year.
The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.
Q. Why the name 'Sea Bears?'
The Sea Bears nickname was chosen in honour of the largest bear in the world, the polar bear whose Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means “Sea Bear”. The Arctic’s top predator is emblematic of Manitoba’s north and pays homage to the bear as a species under stress that shares the land in the north with the Dene people. Winnipeg is home to the world’s largest gallery of Inuit and Dene art, and the polar bear is a symbol of the north and its people. Winnipeg also has the world’s largest polar bear conservation organization. The Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg includes the world-renowned Journey to Churchill polar bear exhibit.
Q. What is a Sea Bears game like?
Sea Bears games provide edge-of-your-seat excitement! With high-end talent coming from around the world to compete in the league, the CEBL features former and future NBA players, as well as players from the NBA G League, Canadian National Team program, top international pro leagues, and from major NCAA and U SPORTS programs. It’s the only FIBA affiliated league in North America, with slight rule variations that make the pace of play faster and the games shorter (less than two hours in duration). The CEBL was the first league in the world to fully adopt the exciting Elam Ending, now called the “Target Score” which is being incorporated into NBA G League games for the first time. Join us for an electrifying night of basketball, music, entertainment and more!
Q. When does the Sea Bears’ CEBL season tip off?
The 2025 regular season tips off at home against the Edmonton Stingers on May 16 following a nine-day training camp. Each CEBL team plays 24 regular season games, 12 at home and 12 on the road. The regular season ends around the first week of August with single-game knockout playoff rounds to follow. The 2025 Championship Weekend, which hosts the conference finals and championship final, is being hosted by the Sea Bears at Canada Life Centre from August 22 to 24. As the host team, Winnipeg has an automatic bye to the Western Conference Final.
Q. Where do the Winnipeg Sea Bears play?
The Sea Bears' home is Canada Life Centre - a venue that puts fans into the action and includes courtside seats, table seating, and comfortable bowl seats to help provide an exceptional basketball experience. Canada Life Centre is easy to reach from all areas of the city due to its central location in the heart of downtown Winnipeg.
Q. Where can fans get tickets?
Season tickets are on sale now! Click here for more information. Flex packs, which allow you to purchase a bundle of tickets and select the games you want to attend later, are available here. Single game tickets are available here.
Q. What’s included in a season ticket package?
The 2025 season ticket package will include 12 regular season games. Seats can be purchased with or without a Championship Weekend 2025 bundle, which comes with the best discount and selection on Championship Weekend seats, where you'll catch your Sea Bears in the Western Conference Final and witness the CEBL Championship game. Season ticket holders enjoy the best discount on seats at 20 per cent off. They also have priority selection to choose their seats ahead of the rush, 15 per cent off all merchandise all season long, exclusive friends and family pricing and more!
Q. How much do tickets cost?
Tickets start as low as $24 when purchased on a full-season basis.
Q. Are there printed tickets?
Mobile tickets are the only method of entry to Sea Bears games. Simply load your tickets on your mobile phone, scan the barcode at the entrance door, and enjoy the game!
Q. Are there in and out privileges at the Canada Life Centre?
There are no in and out privileges at the Canada Life Centre.
Q. Do children need a ticket?
Children two years old and younger at game day do not require their own ticket for entry. They must sit on a guardian’s lap and not take up a seat. Any child over the age of two must have their own ticket for entry.
Q. Are there accessible seats?
The Canada Life Centre provides accessible seating with the option to purchase an adjacent companion seat at the same price.
Q. Do you allow refunds?
There are no refunds on any tickets. Exchange privileges are available exclusively as a benefit to season ticket-holders.
Q. Where can I learn more or have other questions answered?
For any additional questions, please email info@seabears.ca