SCABB clarifies its official name usage with LNB

Following recent discussions between SCABB Saint-Étienne Métropole and the National Basketball League (LNB) regarding the club's name on official league platforms, both parties have issued a joint clarification.

SCABB had requested that its full official name, "SCABB Saint-Étienne Métropole," be used across all LNB official communications and calendars. However, upon the release of these materials, the league's services opted to use only "Saint-Étienne" without prior club validation. This led to subsequent communication and discussions between the club and the LNB.

Both SCABB and the LNB emphasized the constructive and respectful nature of these discussions.

The LNB expressed its pleasure in having SCABB as a professional club, acknowledging the remarkable work done for the club's development, the strength of its project, and its potential to significantly contribute to basketball's growth both locally and nationally.

While the LNB fully understands SCABB's desire for its complete identity to be reflected on official platforms, it cannot currently accommodate this request due to existing regulations. The current rules prohibit the use of acronyms, brands, or territorial designations in official competition names, a rule applied equally to all clubs to ensure fairness. Several similar requests have been reviewed in the past.

Recognizing that professional sports naming conventions can evolve, the LNB has committed to initiating a review of these regulations. The matter will be placed on the agenda for an upcoming Steering Committee meeting to explore potential changes that could better accommodate specific club situations.

SCABB, in turn, reiterated that there is no institutional link with the city of Saint-Étienne itself. Consequently, the club requested that the sole mention of "Saint-Étienne" be removed from LNB platforms. Pending any regulatory changes, the club and the LNB have agreed to use the name "Saint-Chamond Andrézieux-Bouthéon," which honors SCABB's historical roots.

SCABB reaffirmed its commitment to working with the LNB on regulatory evolution. Similar to other professional leagues where club names have adapted to better reflect their identities, SCABB aims to actively participate in this process through dialogue and in service of French basketball development.

SCABB and the LNB are pleased to continue their collaboration in an atmosphere of trust, mutual respect, and a shared ambition: to collectively contribute to the prominence and advancement of professional basketball in France.