Far too much time has passed for a city the size of Guadalajara to be without a competitive professional basketball team, playing in a decent arena in front of a passionate crowd.

The Osos de Jalisco aim to put that right when the new franchise plays its league opener in the CODE Dome on September 6 against last season’s champions, the Halcones de Xalapa (Xalapa Falcons).

The Bears have been welcomed with open arms into the 16-team Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) – arguably the best in  Latin America.   Guadalajara has a proud history of basketball success: The Soles de Jalisco won three consecutive titles in the now disbanded Circuito Mexicano de Basquetbol (CIMEBA) before the franchise folded in 2004.

U.S. Imports Keith Gayden and Larry Smith – the latter with 13 years of NBA experience behind him – will add talent to a team that has impressed in its pre-season preparation games.

The emblematic figure of the team, however, will be home-grown star Enrique Zúñiga, who played for the Soles in its CIMEBA triple championship team.

At one stage earlier this year, it seemed likely that Soles’ former owner Jorge Reyes would resurrect his team under a new name (Mexicali now have the Soles moniker) but the LNBP preferred to go with the new franchise.

Although the private Autonomous University of Guadalajara (UAG) ran a team (the Tecolotes) in the LNBP  between 2002 and 2008, that franchise – like its poorly supported soccer team – never caught the imagination of the Guadalajara public.  Additionally, playing games in the university’s modest indoor sports arena proved to be a major handicap.

The Osos will also find it tough filling the 2,700-capacity CODE Dome on Avenida Alclade, so a good start to the season is vital, given the fickle nature of sports fans in the city.

The LNBP regular season will run for four and a half months through January 12.  Each team will play 20 home games and 20 on the road.  There will be no north-south divide, and only one group for all the teams. The post season will run from January 15 to February 28, 2013.

Osos home games are scheduled every two weeks on Thursdays and Saturdays, at 8:30 p.m.

The Osos de Jalisco season begins on the road on September 4,  The first home game is on Thursday, September 6, 8:30 p.m. against Halcones de Xalapa.  The following game is Saturday, September 8, 8:30 p.m. against Halcones Rojos Veracruz.

Tickets will cost either 50 or 100 pesos.  For more information on the Osos call (33) 3333-9907.

For further information on the LNBP, visit www.lnbp.com.mx.  As yet, the Osos do not have a website in operation.