Isaac
Years ago
Second stage of basketball review underway
Here's yesterday's press release from BA for those who are interested:
The second stage of basketball's comprehensive structural reform process is underway after Basketball Australia (BA) and the National Basketball League (NBL) boards both agreed to the appointment of James Henderson's Dynamic Sports and Entertainment Group (DSEG) to undertake the Second Stage of the review.
DSEG has been charged with the task of producing detailed recommendations for the overall restructure of basketball, including the development of a totally new business model for the single united basketball body called for under the First Stage report.
DSEG's final report, which is expected to be delivered by June 2008, will include recommendations for the management structure of the new organisation and the design of an extensive three-year Business Plan, including full costings via advanced financial modelling.
Basketball Australia Chief Executive Scott Derwin said the identification of the right company to undertake Stage Two of the review had been a meticulous process.
"We have one shot at this and we need to get it right. The recommendations that will be submitted during Stage Two of the review process are absolutely critical to the long-term success of basketball, so it was vital that we found a company that had the necessary experience and expertise," said Derwin. "We therefore undertook a thorough expression of interest process before identifying DSEG as the organisation best qualified to deliver the Stage Two report. They have impeccable credentials and extensive experience in restructuring sporting bodies and we are confident they will help us lay strong foundations for basketball's future growth. "
NBL interim Chief Executive Officer Chuck Harmison backed DSEG's appointment and said the Stage Two report would be critical in determining the future shape of the HUMMER Championship.
"DSEG and the team of consultants they have contracted to this project, have worked with rugby league, soccer, horse racing and countless other sports to help identify the right structure to be successful, so their appointment to undertake Stage Two of our reform process is a coup," said Harmison. "They will deliver a wide ranging report that will include recommendations regarding the structure of the NBL that will help shape the future of the HUMMER Championship. It is an exciting time for basketball as Stage Two will help us address the structural issues that have prevented us from achieving the amazing potential that we have as a sport with 450 million players worldwide."
The Second Stage recommendations from DSEG will take into account global best-practice and will involve the setting of stringent criteria and benchmarks. It will also address the process of transition from the current structure of basketball to a new, more unified and commercially competitive organisation.
DSEG is a marketing services group that provides strategic advice, negotiation and management expertise in the areas of sport, media and entertainment and has overseen successful growth strategies for many of the biggest brands in Australian sport. They work closely with rights holders, corporations and governments on their sports and entertainment investments and over the last ten years have negotiated more than $450 million of commercial transactions across the industry.
DSEG Chief Executive James Henderson said the commercial reform of basketball was critical to rebuild the sport's relevance in the competitive Australian sports landscape.
"Over the past decade, basketball has lost its position as one of our nation's leading sports. The latest FIBA rankings has Australia ranked as the second strongest basketball country in the world yet the average Aussie sports fan couldn't name three players on the current Boomers /Opals program," Henderson said. "This is an amazing disconnect that the game's administrators are well aware of and they are to be congratulated for their commitment to reform. We are well advanced in our thinking around unification and look forward to presenting a report with the key pillars to make basketball much more than a social, school, computer game or backyard pastime for millions of Australians."
BA and the NBL announced their intention to undertake a major structural review of the sport in Australia in May 2007. Working with the Australian Sports Commission, Ernst & Young were appointed to undertake Stage One of the review and in November 2007 they delivered a report that made a number of recommendations, including a move to a single unified national body.