Professional basketball in Saskatoon, Canada, has received a new face and name. The former Saskatchewan Rattlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) are now officially called the Saskatoon Mamba. The team has been taken over by new owners, Jason Ribeiro and Usman Tahir Jutt. They also own another league club, the Calgary Surge. The updated brand was created by REAL Studios, which proposed a modern style filled with vivid symbolism and local references to the city.
A snake has become the new symbol in the Saskatoon Mamba logo, with its outline forming the letter “M.” The brand’s typeface echoes the curves of the city’s symbol, repeating the lines of the South Saskatchewan River. The club’s colors are now bright purple and black, replacing the previous green and yellow. The snake symbolically references the club’s past, when it was known as the Rattlers.
The official brand launch took place at Merlis Belsher Place, where the club announced details of the 2026 season. Games will be held at two venues, the main home arena, “SaskTel Centre,” and the additional “Merlis Belsher Place.” On July 15, at the latter, a special game will be played in the colors of the previous club to emphasize generational continuity and respect for the region’s basketball history.
The new owners emphasize that the rebrand marks the start of an ambitious project to develop basketball in Saskatoon and across the province. The team will work on youth initiatives and programs for local communities and aims to become an important part of the city’s culture and entertainment scene.
Particular attention has been given to details for fans. For example, all 2026 season ticket holders will receive an exclusive New Era 9TWENTY cap featuring the new symbol.
Merlis Belsher Place, one of the team’s home venues, is already known in the region as a multifunctional sports center that has hosted notable events, from the Canadian ringette championship to the Saskatoon Folk Fest. The arena opened in 2018 and is built to NBA standards, seating up to 2,750 spectators, and is a popular hub of the city’s sports life.
Saskatoon Mamba plans to go beyond sports, strengthening ties with residents and shaping Saskatoon’s modern image in Canadian basketball.
