I think that definitely in the future they could have both Christchurch and wellington in the league. Would be awesome.

plus 2nd melbourne, 2nd sydney, brisbane, tasmania. looking reasonable for expansion in the future.

We're going over the top when mentioning a 2nd Sydney team.

Crazy idea: focus on retaining the existing clubs given the struggles at Wollongong and Townsville, then turn our attention to expanding the NBL to Eastern Melbourne, Wellington, and possibly Brisbane.

I think a strong direction is needed and a strong business case. There was something in the Crowvertiser regarding AD's reign and over that time the attendances to games has been static at 33,000/game (ave), yet the revenues have doubled.

The AFL income streams have increased off the oval and I think if the NBL focus on increasing the off court income streams so that the league in general can support smaller clubs, then the league will be in a better place.

For the NBL to be considered an Australasian league, we need another team (at least) from our friends across the ditch.

Playmaker,

The problem is that Wollongong and Townsville could be gone at any minute (and there wouldn't be anything the NBL could do about it..if the fans don't show up the fans don't show up).

And then if you lose those teams the whole comp would fall over because you can't have a 6 team pro league IMO.

We need to move forward and can't afford the weak links dragging the chain.

Definitely no second Sydney team. Sydney has always had a bad culture for attending most sports. Hopefully the Brisbane bid can get moving soon and be accepted when the time comes.

MACDUB, I do understand your point with regards to a 6 team league damaging the NBL's brand, but if Townsville and Wollongong could fold at any moment (based on hoops posts and articles this is true), this is an unacceptable situation. Conceding that fans don't "show up" for reasons beyond the clubs and the league is equally unacceptable.

Having existing clubs fold damages the league as a whole, similarly to the NBL's brand.

It's not as if Adelaide's in a sustainable financial position either, from what I understand. Moreover, if Townsville and Wollongong are the league's "weak links", then what would under-financed expansion teams be classified as?

My point is not to rush into expansion when there are solvable problems (IMO) with the NBL's current structure.

I think the NBL's view is the current structure isn't sustainable and they need more teams to generate more league revenue that can be distributed to teams to help make them sustainable.

8 teams is not enough and if NZ can support a 2nd team it is wonderful for the league.

Just wish Brisbane would get there funk on and get the Bullets back - do Rucker and Loggins have kids?

NZ could support 2 but I don't believe a South Island team would be feasible in the long term

Doomsday Double, Sunshine Swing ... Kiwi Calamity?

Talking about the smaller clubs sustainability, I am always wondering if a relegate approach would cope with this situation. Look at those European leagues all around and it seems they can maintain the league size for most of them. But that could be due to basketball popularity is generally high in those Euro countries, even smaller clubs would attract fans although they have small venues with only 1 or 2k seats. Perhaps need more work to do with social promotion and advertisement for the sport in both Aussie and NZ.

I think with four centres to share games between a South Island team is definitely worth investigating down the track if/when the league's position strengthens.

"I think with four centres to share games between a South Island team is definitely worth investigating down the track if/when the league's position strengthens."

I think if Wellington shared some games with those centres it would work but I don't think they could support their own team week in week out.
All those Centres are Rugby Union strongholds without big populations.

Any chance New Zealanders can refer to the "ANBL" as the NBL in the future? Yes I know there is already an NBL league in NZ which is why they refer to our NBL as ANBL. Its only minor, but it annoys me, and with the possibility of a Wellington team coming in, its only going to get worse :)

Who cares if there is confusion - the NZ NBL runs in the "ANBL" off season anyway, and is a lower tier league.

Mystro, I think the plan is for Wellington to play around the lower North Island, where there are a number of venues that fit what the NBL is looking for.

I reckon when Wellington get accepted into the NBL, we won't have much worries about them financially and for that reason more than any other; I see them being a positive fur the league in much the same way as the Breakers have been (even considering their early days)