What Saskatchewan Rattlers does

The Saskatchewan Rattlers (rebranded to the Saskatoon Mamba in February 2026) is a professional basketball franchise and a founding member of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The team plays a 12-game home schedule running May through August, split across two Saskatoon venues — SaskTel Centre as the main arena and Merlis Belsher Place as the intimate secondary venue added in 2026 — competing against nine other CEBL clubs spread across six Canadian provinces. The franchise won the inaugural CEBL Championship in 2019 and was acquired by REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (which also owns the Calgary Surge) under co-founders Jason Ribeiro, Ph.D., and Usman Tahir Jutt in February 2026, triggering a rebrand, re-launched operations, and an expanded multi-venue product set.

The organization generates revenue through four primary streams. Direct-to-consumer ticket sales include single-game tickets sold via Ticketmaster, season ticket memberships (advertised at up to 40% savings versus single-game pricing), the 2026 Family Season Ticket Pack (2 adult + 2 youth seats across 10 home games at $894 / $1,118 / $1,284), and group tickets (12+ attendees, 20–30% volume discounts, premium experience add-ons). Sponsorships and partnerships span national partners CBC, Foot Locker, Spalding, Kal Tire, Redtag, Booster Juice, Electrolit, OLG, CDIC, and Yerba Madre, plus official partners Avenue Living, Spartan Fitness, and Flag Shop. Merchandise is sold through saskatoonmambashop.ca and at arena locations, and a fourth stream covers premium group experiences — court rentals, meet-and-greets, courtside access, and special event activations. Marketing and distribution combine the official website, an email Insider program, social channels, the CEBL/CBC broadcast and streaming footprint (CBC Gem, CBC Sports YouTube, CEBL YouTube), community events, media accreditation, and Ticketmaster online ticketing.

The franchise supports a small front-office organization (the firmographic record shows 19 employees) covering ticket sales, operations, projects/administration, basketball operations, and a coaching staff led by Head Coach Isaiah Fox with assistants Greg Jockims, Rob Lovelace, and Jamie Campbell. A 16-week paid internship program, a volunteer network, youth basketball camps and clinics, and the restoration of 100+ basketball nets across Saskatoon extend the team's community footprint. Special-event programming includes the Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic at Takhini Arena in Whitehorse, Yukon — the first professional basketball game played in Canada's Territories — staged under a three-year partnership with Sport Yukon, the Government of Yukon, Air North, and Snowline Gold as title sponsor.

Name

Saskatchewan Rattlers

Legal name

Saskatoon Mamba

Website

https://therattlers.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Saskatoon Mamba is a Canadian Elite Basketball League professional basketball franchise serving Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, operating ticketing, sponsorships, merchandise, and youth community programs across SaskTel Centre and Merlis Belsher Place.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saskatoon

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from direct ticket sales including season ticket memberships, single game tickets, group tickets, and family season ticket packs. Season runs May-August with 12 home games and 12 away games per season.
2. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate sponsorship revenue from national partners (CBC, Booster Juice, CDIC, Foot Locker, Electrolit, Kal Tire, OLG, Redtag, Spalding, Yerba Madre) and official partners (Avenue Living, Spartan Fitness, Flag Shop).
3. Merchandise Sales: Team store merchandise sales through saskatoonmambashop.ca and arena merchandise operations.
4. Premium Experiences: Revenue from premium group experiences including court rentals, meet & greets, courtside access, and special event activations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Saskatchewan Rattlers (now operating as the Saskatoon Mamba) is a professional basketball franchise in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) that delivers live professional basketball entertainment to fans in Saskatchewan. The organization sells single game tickets, season ticket memberships, family season ticket packs, and group ticket experiences for home games played at SaskTel Centre and Merlis Belsher Place. Supplementary offerings include team merchandise, youth basketball camps and clinics, community programs, and special events such as the Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Product overview

The Saskatoon Mamba (formerly Saskatchewan Rattlers) is a professional basketball franchise in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The organization operates as a sports entertainment company offering live basketball events and related fan experiences. Core offerings include single game tickets, season ticket memberships, group experiences, and family season ticket packs for home games at SaskTel Centre and Merlis Belsher Place. Additional services include youth basketball camps and clinics, volunteer programs, an internship program, a merchandise store, media accreditation services, and a fan insider loyalty program. The organization also hosts special events including the inaugural REAL North Classic in Whitehorse, Yukon—the first professional basketball game in Canada's Territories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Single Game Tickets Individual game tickets providing fans access to one Saskatoon Mamba home game at either SaskTel Centre or Merlis Belsher Place during the May-August season.
• 2026 Family Season Ticket Pack Package of 2 adult and 2 youth season tickets for all 10 home games across both venues, priced at $894, $1,118, or $1,284 depending on seating location, including an exclusive NEW ERA MAMBA 920 hat for each seat.
• Saskatoon Mamba Team Store Official merchandise shop offering team apparel, memorabilia, and fan gear online at saskatoonmambashop.ca and at arena locations during home games.
• Saskatoon Mamba Internship Program 16-week paid summer internship program offering hands-on experience across marketing, business operations, media and communications, game day operations, ticketing, and basketball operations.
• Volunteer Program Game day volunteer program with roles including game operations, court management, apparel sales, fan engagement, plaza support, mascot assistant, and ticket operations.
• Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic Multi-day basketball event series in Whitehorse, Yukon featuring a 3x3 tournament, coaches clinic, community camp, youth basketball skills camp, and a primetime CEBL regular season game between the Saskatoon Mamba and Calgary Surge.
• Media Accreditation Media accreditation service granting journalists, photographers, and content creators access to home games for professional coverage purposes.
• Insider Program Free fan loyalty program providing exclusive invitations to events, early access to ticket sales and product drops, and special discounts on tickets, apparel, camps, and team partner promotions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ basketball nets restored across Saskatoon, making basketball more accessible to youth.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Government of YukonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Territorial government supporting the Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic event series. The multi-day event at Takhini Arena in Whitehorse, Yukon (July 1-4, 2026) includes the first professional basketball game ever played in Canada's Territories.
• Air North, Yukon's AirlinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Official airline partner supporting the Snowline Gold 2026 REAL North Classic, providing travel services for teams and staff to Whitehorse for the historic first professional basketball game in Canada's Territories.
• Snowline GoldflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Yukon-founded mineral exploration company and title sponsor of the 2026 REAL North Classic. Scott Berdahl is CEO. Sponsoring youth basketball skills camp and providing support for the historic event series.
• Sport YukonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Territorial sport organization instrumental in organizing and hosting the 2026 REAL North Classic in Whitehorse. Led by Stacy Lewis, President. Committed to 3-year event series partnership.
• Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon (TIA Yukon)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Supporting the REAL North Classic through tourism promotion and economic development for Yukon businesses.
• CBCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational broadcast partner providing national television and streaming coverage of CEBL games including Saskatoon Mamba matchups on CBC Gem, CBC Sports YouTube, and CEBL YouTube.
• SpaldingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial basketball partner providing game balls and basketball equipment for CEBL and Saskatoon Mamba games.
• Kal TirecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational partner supporting CEBL and team operations with tire services and sponsorship activation.
• RedtagminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel partner providing travel services and promotions for CEBL fans and teams.
• Foot LockercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial footwear and apparel partner providing merchandise collaborations and fan engagement activations.
• Booster JuiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational beverage partner providing healthy refreshment options at CEBL events.
• ElectrolitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial hydration partner providing electrolyte beverages for players and fans.
• OLGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOntario Lottery Corporation partnership supporting lottery and gaming promotions within CEBL.
• CDICminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCanada Deposit Insurance Corporation partnership providing financial literacy and fan engagement programs.
• Yerba MadreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing yerba mate products and refreshments at CEBL events.
• Avenue LivingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Transportation Service Partner and Official Housing Provider, providing accommodation and transportation solutions for team operations.
• Spartan FitnesscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Fitness Partner supporting player training and fan wellness programs.
• Flag ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing flags, banners, and event decorations for games and promotions.
• TicketmastercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial ticketing platform for all Saskatoon Mamba ticket sales including single games, season memberships, and group tickets through Ticketmaster.ca.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Edmonton Stingers: CEBL Western Conference rival and one of the league's most established franchises. Comparable business model (May–August season, group/season tickets, sponsorships) but operating in a larger market, providing a useful benchmark for revenue scaling potential.
• Ottawa BlackJacks: CEBL franchise based in Ottawa. Direct peer for national-capital market dynamics, federal-government sponsorship opportunities, and bilingual fan engagement considerations.
• Scarborough Shooting Stars: CEBL franchise in the Greater Toronto Area. Comparable league economics with the advantage of operating in Canada's largest media market — useful for benchmarking the upside available from a larger catchment area.
• Calgary Surge: Sister franchise also owned by REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. and competing in the CEBL Western Conference. Same operator, league, season structure, and revenue model — the most directly comparable entity for benchmarking ticket yield, sponsorship rates, and brand strategy.
• Niagara River Lions: CEBL Eastern Conference franchise. Direct peer for cross-conference comparisons on attendance, premium experience pricing, and league-wide sponsorship splits despite a different geographic market.
• Vancouver Bandits: Another CEBL franchise in the Western Conference. Shares league economics, CEBL broadcast exposure, and championship heritage as a past CEBL title winner — making it a strong comparable on sponsorship pricing and merchandise mix.
• Montreal Alliance: CEBL franchise serving the Montreal market. Direct peer operating in a bilingual market with different competitive dynamics vs. Saskatoon, making it relevant for sponsorship and media-rights benchmarking.
• Winnipeg Sea Bears: CEBL Western Conference peer in another mid-sized Canadian prairie market. Comparable demographic and economic profile to Saskatoon — useful for peer-level analysis of similar-market revenue yields.

Regional players

• Saskatchewan Rush: National Lacrosse League franchise also based in Saskatoon. Another direct competitor for local arena nights, sponsorship dollars, and fan attention in the same Saskatchewan market.
• Saskatoon Blades: Western Hockey League franchise based in Saskatoon. Competes with the Mamba for the same Saskatoon sports entertainment dollar during overlapping in-season windows, making it the most relevant local substitute-product benchmark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rattlers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saskatchewan Rattlers