 | This article needs more citations. (August 2026) |
| Brighton Bears | |||
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| League | British Basketball League | ||
| Established | 1973 | ||
| Folded | 2006 | ||
| History | Brighton Bears 1973–1984 Worthing Bears 1984–1999 Brighton Bears 1999–2006 | ||
| Location | Brighton, Sussex and Worthing, Sussex | ||
| Team colours | Blue and White | ||
| Ownership | Ricky Perrin | ||
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The Brighton Bears were a British basketball team based in Brighton, Sussex. Dave Goss established the team in 1973.
From 1984 to 1999 the club was known as the Worthing Bears and was based in the town of Worthing, 12 miles west of Brighton. The Bears played in the top-flight British Basketball League (BBL) until 2006 when the franchise folded.[citation needed] The final season was notable for the signing of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who played three games for the Bears. The league's franchise for the Brighton-area, originally put on hold, was intended to be occupied by the Brighton Cougars from the 2008–09 season but the Cougars bid was rejected, with the league favouring rival candidate Worthing Thunder.[citation needed]
In 2021, the Sussex Bears drafted plans for a stadium to revive the Brighton Bears team. In 2025, the Bears and the Thunder teams merged, allowing for teams ranging from Under 12 to Division One.