​For the first time since 1966, Johnstown will host a professional basketball team. The Johnstown 36ers are set to join the American Basketball Association (ABA) starting with the 2027-28 season, a move announced by ABA Chief Executive Officer Joe Newman on a recent Saturday. The Seagulls organization, which relocated from Atlantic City, will become the 36ers as part of this transition.
Newman explained, “Following a transition of ownership and relocation, the team has officially moved from Atlantic City to Johnstown. The team will operate under the leadership of Darrin ‘Slim’ Akers, who serves as principal owner and team governor. Slim brings extensive experience in both business and basketball, and I am confident he will steer the club to success in Johnstown.” The ABA itself is a mature league with more than 100 active professional teams across the United States, organized into four regional conferences given the sport’s wide footprint and ongoing franchise activity. The 36ers’ official website went live on Friday.
“The Johnstown 36ers are built on resilience, toughness, pride and community,” Akers stated. “We are here to honor the past while building something new for the future: a professional basketball organization that represents the people, history and heart of Johnstown.” In a nod to local heritage, the team has chosen a nickname that carries significance for the city. Akers noted, “The name 36ers honors the year 1936, a defining chapter in Johnstown’s history. The flood of 1936 tested this city’s strength, courage and resilience, and Johnstown did what it has always done: rebuilt, stood tall, and kept moving forward.” Fan engagement is encouraged through the team’s website, where supporters can vote on the mascot—options include a bunny, an ironworker, or a steelhawk.
Historically, Johnstown has hosted professional basketball in different formats, with the Johnstown C-J’s competing in the Eastern Professional Basketball League during the 1965-66 season, and the Johnstown Johnnies playing four seasons from 1908 to 1912, securing a Central Basketball League title in 1912. Akers emphasized the organization’s guiding principles: community pride, hard work, perseverance, opportunity and championship ambition. He believes the 36ers’ identity will forge a lasting bond between the team and future generations of Johnstown basketball fans.
The 36ers will play their home games at War Memorial Arena, a venue steeped in Pennsylvania sports history and renowned for providing a genuine professional atmosphere that connects the team to Johnstown’s rich athletic legacy. The War Memorial Arena is widely regarded as one of the most historic sports arenas in the region, underscoring the franchise’s commitment to rooted, community-centered competition.
However, some timing and logistical details remain to be clarified. Jean Desrochers, General Manager of 1st Summit Arena at Cambria County War Memorial, indicated that there is currently no formal agreement between the arena and the Johnstown 36ers. “We would welcome basketball at the arena, but we have never been contacted by this group, and there is no lease in place for basketball next season,” Desrochers remarked. Akers, who has previously owned and operated teams such as the Camden Monarchs, the Yeadon Kings and the Atlantic City Seagulls, remains confident about the project’s trajectory and its potential to energize the Johnstown sports landscape.