Undeterred by the big financial losses incurred on the Canada 55+ Games, the City of Brampton wants to make a play for a world youth basketball championship.

At the Wednesday, Nov. 2 meeting of Community and Public Services Committee, councillors gave staff the go ahead to make an official bid to Canada Basketball for the 2019 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) U19 World Championship, and set a budget of $145,000, plus $150,000 of in-kind costs related to facility rentals at the Powerade Centre and Brampton Soccer Centre.

“I support the bid because it could lead to bigger and better opportunities for Brampton,” said Coun. Gurpreet Dhillon.

If Brampton wins the bid, the cost to host the event, as reported by Canada Basketball, is approximately $1.7 million.

Brampton will make a formal bid for the sporting event on the heels of the Canada 55+ Games, which carried a massive shortfall of approximately $771,000, as a result of unanticipated changes in technical specifications and less than anticipated revenue.

It cost the city $1,236,509 to hold the Games over three days last August with taxpayers covering the lion’s share of the price tag.

Staff told committee members Wednesday that Brampton has “a rich history of hosting successful sporting events” including the 2016 Canada 55+ Games, among others.

The FIBA U19 World Championship is held every two years. Canada Basketball is seeking a municipal partner to bid for the right to host the 2019 event, to be held over nine days in June 2019.

Brampton was home to professional basketball club, the Brampton A’s, before the team relocated to Orangeville a couple of years ago and took the flooring with them.

The city would have to secure flooring for at least two facilities in order to host the championships.