Hoops franchise hopes Lightning strikes in L.A.: team owner banks on ex-pros and streamlined road trips.

THERE'S new action on the local hoops scene. The Los Angeles Lightning will debut in the International Basketball League on April 18. They will play home games at the 1,500-seat Gilbert Sports Arena on the campus of Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

"In this market, there are so many people who love basketball, but it is difficult to travel to Staples Center," said team owner Mark Harwell, a Hollywood producer. "We provide that niche for families in the northern and western part of the city where they can see familiar faces."

This is the fifth basketball team that Harwell has helped launch, although it is the first one that he has also owned. The Lightning will operate on a $1 million budget, which Harwell says is higher than that of most other teams in the league.

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That's because the Lightning has recruited several former NBA players to the team, including former Los Angeles Clippers star Lamond Murray and UCLA Bruins standout Toby Bailey.

"Because we will be heavy on the NBA players, we could have the highest payroll in the league," said Harwell.

The remaining players will be young and looking for exposure with hopes to play internationally. Harwell received 600 e-mails from players around the world interested in a spot on the team. At the conclusion of each IBL season, half of the league's 200 players leave on long-term contracts to play in other leagues overseas. Many of those contracts could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even millions. Scouts from around the world attend the games, and some have even shown up at practice.

Harwell believes the four-year-old IBL will prove successful thanks to its financial practices. With several teams in the league based in South Korea, Japan and China, international exposure will permit them to make money through advertising and sponsorships in addition to ticket sales. Plus, travel expenses are streamlined.

"Leagues get in trouble because of the cost of travel," said Harwell. "There is a one-flight rule that prevents you from doing a lot of extended travel and flying." Instead of constantly flying for road games, teams plan one extended road trip.

New media will also play a role.

"We are going to podcast all games and have them available on our Web site," said Harwell. Podcasts will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.

The team has received corporate sponsorship from vitamin and supplement manufacturer TwinLab Corp. As part of the sponsorship agreement, Twinlab is designing a sports energy drink that will be named L.A. Lightning.

Staff reporter David Nusbaum can be reached at [e-mail] or at [phone], ext. 236.