Isaac
Years ago

NBL plans to announce four new teams by October

The National Basketball League wants a Canberra team back in the competition by 2015, officials visiting the city on Tuesday to outline expansion plans and to prompt a franchise bid from the nation's capital.
It has been 11 years since the death of foundation NBL club, the Canberra Cannons, but new NBL chief executive Fraser Neill said Canberra was now a primary target for the competition’s expansion for the 2015-16 summer season.
The NBL is meeting with stakeholders in five areas - Canberra, Tasmania, Brisbane, Melbourne and New Zealand - with plans to double the competition’s teams from eight to 16 in a two-step expansion process over the next five years.
The NBL is set to advertise for expressions of interest in the next three weeks and aims to announce four new expansion clubs by October, giving them a 12-month period to prepare for the 2015-16 season.
Full article

We've heard the teams target before, but not the specific date?

Topic #33678 | Report this topic


fubr  
Years ago

And the money comes from where exactly? Is there a Mr Money to bankroll this until TV rights come or do we just think the crowds will line up... A vision without resources is a dream.

Reply #456683 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

True that ^

Reply #456685 | Report this post


Curtley  
Years ago

Here's an idea, get 2 guys who are decent basketballers that are also either studying or working in marketing and get each club to employ 2 of these guys per team and work part-time in club marketing and exposure.

Reply #456686 | Report this post


Deimos38  
Years ago

New broadcast deal starts in 2015/16 and the way they are strategical moving forward I'm sure it's worth something.

Reply #456689 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Seriously 4 teams in 1/2 years is too many to introduce in a short period of time.

Reply #456690 | Report this post


fubr  
Years ago

Have been advised the expense line for an NBL team is ~$3-4 mil pa. Don't know the revenue line however would guess most are not getting a rate of return needed to attract investment. So until Mr Money or Mrs media empire gets behind it the NBL and WNBL fans will continue to dream and not much more will change.

Reply #456691 | Report this post


MACDUB  
Years ago

Great work NBL.

And i mean that seriously.

Everyone criticises them when they do nothing and when they do something. They cant win really.

Credit where credit is due.

They are being active and i think we all have to understand the difficulty they are going through (so many factors they have to consider)

Reply #456693 | Report this post


HO  
Years ago

The A-league made some serious mistakes with hasty expansion into Gold Coast and Townsville. You want to hope this current plan is not similar.

Reply #456694 | Report this post


fubr  
Years ago

will need to be one seriously big media deal to support 16 teams

Reply #456695 | Report this post


Wilson Sting  
Years ago

Great idea Curtley. If there aren't suitable candidates then clubs could 'encourage' players to help out in part-time roles/study such as marketing.

Reply #456697 | Report this post


alexkrad  
Years ago

15-16 lines up well with the new broadcast deal.

So this pretty much confirms 14-15 will be another year of 8 teams, but perhaps some other changes to be trailed in a non expansion year? points cap, 12 minute quarters etc?

Reply #456698 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The resources are there. It doesn't need to be one person bankrolling it any more. Its far more affordable to fund and with fewer people at games and a lot more games, the ticketing will be affordable and the NBL is hoping to promote it as the hottest ticket in town.
The new NBL model will be going back to the community roots that it lost 20 years ago.
There is a lot of state and federal funding available to get sports people involved in the community and that will be the new model.

Reply #456704 | Report this post


Stevie Wonder  
Years ago

if you build it , they will come

Reply #456706 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

It seems like a lot of teams that get in trouble end up having crappy arena deals in large stadiums as a major part of the problem.

Smaller venues, midweek games, more games, more teams, live on tv somewhere. I see positives, I see a plan and I see hope.

I like the idea of being able to watch a game most nights either on tv or nbl.tv. Although I'm probably a hoops junkie and not the type of fan the nbl is hoping to attract.

Reply #456709 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

@fubr

well i guess that's why they've made a statement of 'expression of interest'. better to test the market than just waiting for a miracle.

Reply #456712 | Report this post


Joshuapending  
Years ago

Personally think it's too many too quick. Just get what we have working and strong. The last thing we need is another story of a team folding.

Reply #456717 | Report this post


Pauly B  
Years ago

Providing all 4 of these new teams have proven to the NBL that they have a solid financial plan including committed sponsors as well as a plan of grassroots engagement then I have no problem with bringing in all 4 at once. The #1 thing I want for the NBL is a stable environment, not having to worry about which team will be on the brink of collapse every off-season

Reply #456720 | Report this post


sharod  
Years ago

Is that part of the reason Shane Heal is being hired by Wellington Saints?

Reply #456725 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

let's hope so.

Reply #456730 | Report this post


fubr  
Years ago

Anon 712

I actually think it's a good thing to go with an EOI and I truly hope there are consortiums who put in a bid. The critical factor still comes to the media coverage, marketing and money. South Dragons had media and marketing but still couldn't make it work from the financial point. The key will come down to sponsor dollars. Currently the biggest dollar sponsor in sports is still alcohol, auto and fast food. Unfortunately due to current government funding alcohol is blocked out and there are moves to block fast food sponsorship. only leaves automotive and that is not exactly in the best shape right now. So until a real deal is made for TV rights and league level sponsor signed we are trapped in the status quo. Or the league takes a gamble, stepping away from government sponsored deals blocking alcohol and gaming sponsorship and engage sponsorship the same way as AFL NRL etc.

Reply #456731 | Report this post


Curtley  
Years ago

Everyone's talking about how these teams mightn't survive but even in the event that they do how is the standard of basketball going to possibly improve and therefore get new fans?

Reply #456732 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The NBL is looking for a different model Fubr. It's not looking for the Jack Bendants of the world, nor beer or smokes or fast food or what other paradigm you can think of.
Its simple community engagement. As I understand it now and this is how it was explained to me that Souths now go out into the community and run programs with the community that are funded either by state or Fed programs. $2.5 mill worth. They got ZERO previously.
The days of one owner or a few owners are disappearing quickly. It relies on those people to keep their interest of a long time. The other owners in the past have been dodgy to say the least. Spending everyone elses money but their own.
Engage the community apply for grants put something in back to the community, play lots of games sell cheap tix and away we go,
Canberra I have no idea about. That seems quite strange to me. They have never afaiK expressed any public interest in anyt5hing NBL related. The Gunners have up until recently never even had imports. basically because they had no money, now they are talking about an NBL team. 2nd Kiwi team makes sense, Tassie sure, Brisb has never had anyone other than sitiveni talking crap about their re entry. 2nd Melb team? who knows. It wont be funded from Knox that's a gimmie.

Reply #456736 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

"It's simple community engagement"

Is that why Townsville is thriving?

Reply #456738 | Report this post


fubr  
Years ago

Anon 736

thanks for the clarification of the model. Is there an example of were this new model is working anywhere in say the NBL or WNBL yet? Now I like the whole community grassroots approach and think it's what is needed. Would love to see coordination and cooperation between associations, state governing bodies and NBL WNBL clubs. But a the moment they can't even get the fixtures to not clash so some of the biggest fans can get to games.

dumbest thing ever fixture games on same night as Jr championship / league games. Kills the gate and the community base models need a good gate. By the way what $2.5 mil grants are you referring to?

Reply #456740 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I had heard that Souths (NRL) had gone down this path.
Maybe Twnsv aren't doing what that very well. it's not about running clinics at your own cost its about engaging with the community in perhaps the anti gambling notion, or the anti smoking lobby, or maybe the healthy eating notion that governments sponsor. The NBL have for too many years relied on doing it the old way for too many years that have failed. The NBL of old allowed quite dodgy people to own teams. They spent everyone elses money except their own.
It's time for new thinking and currently the NNBL seem to be approaching it like never before. no more Speeds, Palmers, Thody's, Rick who ever he was. No more Cairns dodgies, no more Kings dodgies. No more Brisbane dodgies, no more Gold Coast dodgies. Hell the Dragons walked because they knew that the former model was always going to fail. lets not mention Newcastles and Hayes and Crawford wasn't it?, and Canberra and....
Smart sports administrators hopefully with new ideas for a change to help the NBL survive and reconfigure itself.

Reply #456741 | Report this post


Nathan of Perth  
Years ago

A-League made some bloopers with the rapid expansion to Gold Coast and Townsville, but West Sydney was no less rapid an expansion and it is working with flying colours.

Have to learn from both lessons.

Reply #456746 | Report this post


Mick  
Years ago

Finally they arent rushing expansion. A full 12 months at the very least is required to get a franchise up and running AFTER the news has gone public.

This will give the league another year to fix the mess in townsville and wollongong.

Reply #456753 | Report this post


HO  
Years ago

Nathan of Perth.

Core difference being that the West Sydney franchise was considered strategically important for A-league almost from the day the league opened its doors.

In much the same way that basketball's heartland is the east of Melbourne, football's is definitely West Sydney. There was agitation for years for the league to open the doors in West Sydney, and when they prioritized North Qld over WS people were blown away.

Strategic imperative. What is the strategic imperative for Canberra? For Wellington? For Hobart? Melbourne and Brisbane absolutely...

Reply #456759 | Report this post


HO  
Years ago

Sorry NOP.

One more thing. Its not about rapid expansion. Its about right expansion. WS was always going to be a good market for A-league - people knew that for ages. In that context, even though the cub was set up quickly, it was not rapid expansion at all. WS was hurried (very hurried) but its P's - place, people, etc. were all good for it.

It was also established with a bucket of government money, which is not going to happen in the NBL.

Reply #456760 | Report this post


PeterJohn  
Years ago

Well done NBL. Set the bar high and if you miss, the comp will still be bigger than it is now. But they seem to have some checks and balances in place to make sure they won't take any con man with a big smile and a flash suit but who couldn't manage a kick in a street fight.

Re the comment above about quality of the basketball, that's secondary. If you want crowds and TV ratings, follow the BBL model. Massive crowds and TV ratings and all because it's fast, exciting and anything can happen. Some of the teams are filled out with grade cricketers who'll never play for Australia and probably not even for their state in longer forms of the game. But they can bowl a bit and can belt the ball around and get 30 runs in 15 balls before they get out.

In NBL, the equivalent guys are those who can score but can't even spell D let alone play it. So every team is a bit weaker on defence and a bit stronger on offence and you get high scoring, fast games that entertain (anyone remember the 80's and 90's?). The crowds will love it and the owners will make money and basketball will get a TV deal that involves the TV network promoting the product instead of burying it. Like BBL.

Like MACDUB, I applaud the NBL having a plan that might actually work and for putting it out there.

Reply #456765 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

If they set the bar high and they miss, then what's the point? THIS IS LAST CHANCE SALOON.

If this thing fails, that's it. The league will either be as it is now (not necessarily a bad thing) or will continue to shrink and become even more irrelevant (hard to fathom, I know).

Reply #456766 | Report this post


anon  
Years ago

Our league is far from irrelevant. Very good standard, good entertainment. People love to talk things down. The sporting landscape is a tough place. Perth great, some others need help and work.
Same as most pro sports competitions in the world outside the very best.

Reply #456768 | Report this post


HO  
Years ago

Anon - while irrelevant is a really unfair word, it is certainly not publicly perceived to be important.

BBL is, AFL is, NRL is, A-league is.

Its relevance cannot be questioned, because there is a large community, even if they never attend, that deem it relevant. Its prominence can be.

It is barely prominent.

Reply #456773 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

"It's simple community engagement"

Is that why Townsville is thriving?


------

You hit the nail on the head without realising it. Townsville neglected their community and are now having to dig their way out of the hole that created.

Reply #456774 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

"This is the NBL's last chance to get it right"

- Everyone, every year for the last decade

Reply #456776 | Report this post


Isaac  
Years ago

Everyone's talking about how these teams mightn't survive but even in the event that they do how is the standard of basketball going to possibly improve and therefore get new fans?
PeterJohn's already covered it. Dig deeper into the talent stocks, and you have a wider gap between your elite end and the scraps coming off the bench. It just might work.

That, plus three imports per team could be enough. Or even no import restrictions? Right now, teams are going 8-9 deep in most cases when they could go 7. Get 3-4 players back from Europe, add some SEABLers and Kiwis and it could probably work.

Reply #456784 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Right now quality players are missing out on minutes because teams are so deep, you only need to look at Adelaide. Another 40 players will not deplete the basketball quality that much that anyone will really notice. Even Ben Allen might even be able to keep his NBL dream alive with 4 new teams.

Reply #456800 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Wrong... anonymous 774, Townsville always were in touch with the community. The real reason Is that that Jupiters sold their carpark space of 600 to a real estate developer. They then gated their existing car park for only casino guests. In addition they put functions on during croc games. Meetings were held with their management to come to some sort of compromise. Fell on deaf ears. Rent increased from them. And therefore crocs bled. New stadium in the city with easy access and the crowds return ....simples..

Reply #456820 | Report this post


HO  
Years ago

the prospect of Ben Allen playing 32 minutes a game in the new NEABL is simply mouthwatering...

Reply #456821 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Crocs will move probably to the RSL? facility.
No exorbitant overheads and back in the community with a chance of making some money on game night instead of subsidising the TEC.

Reply #456822 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Crocs admitted they stopped getting into the community enough. Consultated with Taipans on how to get to their level. Will take time.

Reply #456828 | Report this post


LC  
Years ago

I am optimistically buoyed by the news that the NBL will soon be increasing the number of teams!

Canberra will be back - they have already launched their new Twitter account and been tweeting that they will be back in 2015!

Looking forward to more games, more teams, more players, and hopefully if done right, more exposure for the NBL and the great game of basketball.

However the teams must not leave behind grassroots associations this time around...stay in touch with the juniors and watch the league prosper.

Reply #456830 | Report this post


Melbourne Boy  
Years ago

How good would it be if by 2016 the NBL is structured like this:

North East Conference

Cairns
Townsville
Brisbane
Sydney
Canberra
Woolongong
Newcastle
Gold Coast


South West Conference

Perth
Adelaide
Melbourne
Victoria
Geelong
Tassie
Breakers
Wellington

Reply #456831 | Report this post


Steven  
Years ago

Good post MB, play inter conference opponents 4 times (28games) and play other conference twice (16games) a 44 game season.

Reply #456832 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I reckon there'll be a West Sydney team.

Reply #456833 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The 16 teams is about 5 years away don't get too excited MB.

Reply #456839 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Look for the NBA to actually team up with the NBL in the offseason, including a preseason game here, an NBL Summer League team and some more significant investments into our market.

We should be able to get a very good tv deal with more live NBA games and better NBL coverage.

All of this should mean a lot of extra money that the NBL will make and be able to share with the teams - maybe for the first time ever!

Now will we have enough basketball talent? I'd say the Shaun Gleeson's, Ben Allen's, Adam Doyle's & Scott Kenny's of the world will thank their lucky stars.

Reply #456863 | Report this post


proud  
Years ago

I think if you don't manage to make it in the 16 team competition if say South East Melbourne Magic come back in and say North (west) Melbourne Giants or West Sydney Razorbacks don't make it back in then their chances of making it will be significantly lessened. If you add Rockhampton or a 3rd NZ (NZ development team like the AIS Cannons should be) bid then you have 4 teams from both conferences that are making enough noise to keep those teams you mentioned honest and on their toes and that is always a good thing.

Great ideas everyone and glad to see lots of positivity on here, no point in being pessimistic as we currently have a league in which every team this year has been 'the form side' and why would that change ?

Reply #456877 | Report this post


Mick  
Years ago

If you can't find somewhere to park within 10 mins walk of the Townsville Entertainment Centre every single game without fail I am honestly surprised you know how to use a computer.

Townsville people who whinge about parking, parking, parking need to get their head out of their arses and go live in a bigger city for a while. Then you'll be able to complain about parking...

They want to be able to park their car directly out front of whatever event, shop, or place they are going to and have an uninterrupted 15 metre walk to the front door AT MOST, or they start complaining.

Reply #456898 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

10 mins walk in TSV is not 10 mins in Melbourne or Sydney. It's very hot and humid. But you obviously you could have run the crocs better mick with all your experience....

Reply #456933 | Report this post


paul  
Years ago

Im sure the locals in Townsville are used to the weather to walk 10 minutes. It was 40 degrees in Melbourne two weeks ago and over 6000 turned up and most of them would have walked more than 10 minutes.

FWIW, the Crocs have buses running from the city and from a nearby car park.

Reply #456935 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Obviously you don't know townsville Paul.

Reply #456936 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Is this for real or make believe?

Reply #456959 | Report this post


Shells  
Years ago

Expansion is great for the NBL...... But we seriously need a better TV deal!!! Seriously, the current coverage by Channel 10 is a JOKE!!! and the NBL tv idea is good, but quality is crap........ I cant wait for this deal to end this season...... FOXTEL PLEASE TAKE BACK THE NBL...... OR. NBL...... Talk with SBS.... The coverage they give NETBALL has made the ANZ Netball comp very popular!!!

PLEASE!!!!! ALL GAMES LIVE'!!!!!!!!!

Reply #456980 | Report this post


Libertine  
Years ago

Me thinks that the money behind this might be coming from Secaucus, New Jersey.

Reply #457052 | Report this post


Ricey  
Years ago

It's great to see the NBL finally taking a new approach and being aggressive with its plans. It's already shown its new attitude is creating a new media response, and more of it (yes it isn't a great amount or headline news but it's improved significantly). Aiming for 4 teams is fine, may not happen, and only get 2, but shit that's more than 0.
Screw government money honestly. Big beer companies = marketing, media and money, plus funny enough a higher level of respect it would seem from tv networks (more advertising dollars pumped into the commercial breaks), and will create more opportunities to get other big name brands behind the league. Plus, who's against funny basketball focused commercials like there is for the AFL, Cricket, etc.
Anyone having bitch fits over this plan is beyond me. Seems these are the same people who complain about everything the NBL does or doesn't do.

Reply #457248 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Tassie bid news.
http://www.themercury.com.au/sport/local-sport/all-our-dreams-in-one-mans-basket/story-fnj92b0f-1226827752209

Reply #457271 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

More on the Canberra bid. http://www.theage.com.au/sport/basketball/can-canberra-cannons-fire-another-shot-in-nbl-20140214-32rm2.html#poll

Reply #457281 | Report this post




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