Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
BASKETBALL
BASKETBALL (professional). Through early June 1979, efforts were made to field the Midwest Professional Basketball League, an eight-team circuit that would have included the "Dubuque Dukes." The Dubuque team, scheduled to play seventy games including thirty-four at the DUBUQUE FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER, would have had their debut October 20 in Sioux City. Their first home game would have been the next day against the Wichita Pilots.
As of June 10, 1976, it was announced that Fred Lewis, former star of the Indiana Pacers, would be the coach of the Dukes. As late as June 25, after the collapse of the first financing proposal, there were no reports of interest in reviving the team with local financing. Estimates were made that the Dukes' schedule might have generated $34,000 in addition to concessions for the Five Flags.