Anonymous
Years ago

NBL & Kestelman: It's official

http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/1ny6u7cf4h0wu1wyt2zzur2657

Great positive for the NBL.

Final chance to get it right?

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Happy Days  
Years ago

Great news at least it buys them some time to get there act together.

Reply #530214 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The National Basketball League (NBL) will again be elevated to major sport status in Australia with Melbourne businessman Larry Kestelman, through his LK Group, set to take a controlling stake.

Mr Kestelman is also co-owner and Chairman of NBL team Melbourne United. As a result of his controlling stake in the league, he will step down as Chairman and take on the role of Executive Director of the National Basketball League.

Graeme Wade will remain as independent Chairman of the NBL Board and will focus, along with Mr Kestelman, on forming a new board that will drive broadcast and general revenue for the league.

Mr Kestelman said he remained committed to Melbourne United but will concentrate his efforts on restoring the NBL to commercial success, including establishing an NBL Commission and securing a media rights partner and major sponsor ahead of next season.

"I have a strong team running the club but now my interest in Melbourne United is just going to be as an owner. I will now be dedicated to making the league successful," he said.

“We've seen the popularity of basketball around the world, and it is my vision to bring the sport back to where it belongs in Australia, as one of the leading sporting codes at both a grassroots and professional level.

“It’s going to be my job to reignite the passion behind the NBL and I stand ready for the larger challenge of achieving success for all the clubs.

“In this business of sports entertainment we need to set the league up as a more commercial and professional organisation across the board.”

The LK Group commitment to the NBL will be over $6 million. The funds will drive an ambitious growth program with a focus on the delivery of a compelling entertainment product, fan engagement and national marketing campaigns.

NBL Chairman Graeme Wade welcomed Larry Kestelman’s commitment to the League.

“We are on track to re-capitalise this league so it can run like it needs to be run. The longevity of this competition relies on the stability of clubs, and Larry’s vision is very much in line with this,” Mr Wade said.

“He leads by the numbers and the NBL head office and all clubs will benefit from Larry’s commercial expertise and enthusiasm for the sport. This is set to be a very positive development for basketball in Australia.”

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Anonymous  
Years ago

I agree with Happy Days on this, we are yet to see what the major changes will be and how they will make an effect on the league but it is some good news for the NBL, at last.

Reply #530216 | Report this post


Dione 87  
Years ago

great news !

Reply #530217 | Report this post


alexkrad  
Years ago

This is going to be the last chance they get to have any respect from the larger Australian sporting community.

Please dont F this up

Reply #530218 | Report this post


Aussiebballer  
Years ago

Good news that someone has put their money forward to try and re-ignite the NBL.
I hope his experience can help get some media and sponsors on board.

Kind of weird that he is still an owner of one of the teams but hopefully it is not an issue.

Reply #530219 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

If what is happening to FIFA right now is anything to go by, I wouldn't be concerned about the NBL in regards to declaring ones interest. Kestleman has well and truly declared it!

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Now scrap the damn points system!

Reply #530223 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Agree^ what is the purpose of a points system when there is a sallary cap anyway?

Reply #530224 | Report this post


Aussiebballer  
Years ago

To be clear I am not questioning his intend or morals.
I just think it looks strange from an outside view.

If the NBA Commissioner bought the Atlanta Hawks or if Mark Cuban was named NBA Commissioner wouldn't it look odd?


Just a note, I am excited by the news and hope it all works out well.

TV and Sponsorship are the 2 major issues that need to worked out to get all teams financially viable.
The only reason there are still 18 AFL teams is due to great TV and Sponsorship deals.
Otherwise the AFL would be down to 12 teams by now.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

GREAT NEWS FOR SPORT IN THIS COUNTRY! LETS GET BEHIND IT!

Reply #530226 | Report this post


A. Bitoni Fan  
Years ago

Well done Larry and the NBL! I look forward to seeing the league progress to be a respectable commercial operation!

Reply #530228 | Report this post


cats 4 life  
Years ago

If Marvin did the same thing, I could just imagine what people would be saying!

Can't wait to see what's a head

Reply #530230 | Report this post


KET  
Years ago

The points cap was useful because the salary cap is virtually unenforceable to the point of being an honour system. The salary cap was allegedly abused for a good decade by championship sides from sydney melbourne Brisbane south dragons

Reply #530232 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Not sure why this has anything to do with Marvin but Kestleman has clearly declared his self interest in growing the league and of course it will also benefit his own franchise. Nothing wrong with that unless he blocks a second Victorian based team because it might reduce the profit or influence of the United Group. That is the only real concern here!

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Anonymous  
Years ago

No reason @KET why the NBL can't create an enforceable sallaray cap system is there? Other leagues do it, don't they?

Reply #530234 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

word is Kestleman will change the name of the league to the "Major League Sports League" (MLSL) to entice fans of other popular US sports

https://twitter.com/NomadCram/status/603699459654987776

Reply #530236 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Excellent article here:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/nbl-meet-the-man-who-is-going-to-fix-australias-national-basketball-league/story-fni2u9cl-1227372284189

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Lets hope now the nbl can become credible.

Reply #530242 | Report this post


Kobe24  
Years ago

2 leagues in the same title... doubt it, but a change is warranted. The NBL as a status is stale and has so many negative things associated with it these past years. Hope this works out for basketball in this country, cant hurt with the attention the NBA Aussies are recieving lately either.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

NBL: Meet the man who is going to fix Australia's National Basketball League

"I think if I see an opportunity or I see something broken, I need to fix it," he says.

That is why the hugely successful property tycoon and businessman’s LK Group has sunk over $6 million for the controlling stake of the National Basketball League.

He wants to lead the NBL out of the abyss and turn it into a viable commercial venture, but there are more sentimental reasons why he is putting his money where his mouth is.

As a passionate basketball person he could no longer sit back and watch the competition he loves continue to deteriorate.

“The state of the league that I am getting it in, I am not sure we can get away from the fact that we have no television deal right now,” he said.

“We’ve also had no major sponsors, so I feel very confident that I can improve on that quite easily.

“It will be one of the smaller businesses that I own right now as it stands, so I don’t feel the pressure to improve it.

“What I feel the pressure of is to actually live up to my own expectations of what I see as the vision of the league in the future.

“And that is to be a world standard league that can be proud of itself.”

Before taking over the NBL, Kestelman first turned his attention to the Melbourne Tigers.

He and his family went from supporters to sponsors and then eventually to owners of the club that is now known as Melbourne United.

It has given him a strong grounding in how to run a sporting organisation.

“We decided to take over and fix it and prove to ourselves that you can actually have a professional basketball club in Melbourne that can hopefully be there forever,” he said.

“We took that challenge on three years ago and the scoreboard reads pretty well.

“When we took over we had very few members and attendances were very poor.

“We finished last season with sold-out crowds of 11.000 people and sold out corporate sponsorship.

“The track record is there and I feel like that is a job that if not done then at least on its way and I have a great team there running the club.”

The first priority will be to secure a broadcasting deal for the league, which Kestelman is confident of achieving for the coming season.

“I think the potential is limitless,” he said.

“Marketing and promoting the sport is important as well, so I’m hoping to do that with the right media partner.

“Last year when we started the season I don’t think there was even a whisper.

“There was nothing in the paper, I don’t think there was one TV commercial or one billboard, so that is something we will definitely rectify.”

Kestelman also believes the business community will get behind the resurgence of the NBL and has urged business leaders to get in touch with him to open discussions.

He will not be a walking piggy bank for the eight clubs, but he will work with them to improve their business practices.

“My focus is not necessarily on the clubs and their financial viability,” he said.

“I’m there if a club needs assistance and that’s without a doubt.

“But I’m here to help them build their businesses and provide services that they otherwise might not have.

“And that includes sharing knowledge and helping them commercialise what they can’t.”

Kestelman’s goal is to stabilise the league, build it and then expand it into key areas such as Brisbane.

He says there have also been approaches from areas such as Wellington, Tasmania and Canberra to consider.

Then he believes it will be time to look to Asia.

“My long-term goal for this is for it to be as viable, as professional as the best leagues in the world,” he said.

“But I also want to capitalise on the opportunity that we have by our geographical location similar to other businesses, be it mining or agriculture.

“Our neighbours are in a position where their financial success and their world recognition is growing.

“We are in a perfect time zone so there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t achieve a much broader participation from those counties.”

Kestelman does not flinch when asked what his long-term vision for the competition is.

“I want to see completely sold out crowds and basketball to be the hottest ticket in town, which I think is very achievable,” he said.

“I want to see grassroots players and kids visualise a pathway and follow our players rather than just look to the NBA.

“The NBL, as it already is and can be, is a wonderful competition from the player’s point of view and the experience that I’ve enjoyed as a corporate sponsor, a father and a participant.

“For me the vision is to set up something that competes from an entertainment point of view on any level.

“When people are watching on television, I want them to feel like they are watching the NBA even if the standard is just one step below.

“I want them to have heroes and villains and kids to visualise playing for the Sydney Kings or Melbourne United or Cairns Taipans.”

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Dazz  
Years ago

Still can't get over all those espousing how wonderful this is, without having any details?

And where are all the "conflict of interest" bleaters now???
FMD you screamed blue murder when Marvin was acting chairman, and when Bendat's son wanted to back a new Brisbane Bullets... Now the owner of MU controls the whole league!?!?!

As for a 2nd Melbourne team? Doh! You can kiss that dream goodbye.

I'm not saying it won't be good. He's putting in $6M and clearly the existing board thinks its a good deal, so you'd have yo assume they made the right call. It's just very short on details.

The article doesn't really inspire confidence. He wants to attract sponsors, get a tv deal, and advertise. I wonder why nobody else thought of that? LOL.

Also, I don't see why we need an "independent chairman" any more when control has been handed to Kestleman.

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Bear  
Years ago

As I see it Kestleman will be the chair of the board that runs the business, there will be a different group that controls the basketball side of things.

That means two different bodies with two different agendas but working towards one goal, hopefully.

There are some things he says that worry me, but it is early days. Previously the COE's of the NBL have all talked it up, but for one reason or another they have failed to live up to those expectations and dreams.

This bloke is different in a Frank Lowe type of way, he has big bucks and $$$ mean something in the business world, as much as in the 'business of sports' world.

There is much to be done and the new season will be upon us before we know it, so I wouldn't expect too much prior to next season other than consolidation and positive marketing.

Fixing the league, as he has put it, is no overnight job.

Let's see how it unfolds...

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Anonymous  
Years ago

NBL doesn't need a 2nd team in Melbourne, it needs stability, crowds, presence in all capitals, and prime time TV broadcast (Friday night and Saturday basketball).

Get all that, and franchise rights will become very valuable. Hopefully a media (tv) company sees the potential return on investment.

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Bear  
Years ago

Anon^ I strongly disagree, I believe it needs both. However timing is the issue, obviously a second Melbourne team is not right for the current climate or where the NBL is at for the moment, but it is crucial once we get the other issues you have mentioned right IMHO...

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Matthew  
Years ago

I think it will be on Foxtel personally. If it gets quite popular on Foxtel then a Commercial station will attempt to cash in on that, but I do think Foxtel is the fit for it currently.

Yeah I know Foxtel has a what 35 ish percent take up rate in Australia, but I still think Foxtel is more a fit for the NBL currently.

Reply #530256 | Report this post


swish  
Years ago

At least we'll have one vision ( dare I say One Dircetion) for the NBL. Decisions will be able to be made quickly and actions taken qquickly.

Does anyone remember what hapened when a rich guy took over workd cricket - Kerry Paker. The cricket world was split for a while but ultimately world cricket is now a hot TV item as is run how Kerry wanted to see it run.

Does anyone remember the various versions of a national Soccer League in Australia before Fran Lowey put his millions into it, re labelled it and re packaged it.

I think Rupert Murdoch did the same thing with the NRL.

A benevolent dictator is much more effective than a democracy!

Lets Promote the NBL!

Reply #530258 | Report this post


Bear  
Years ago

I cry when I flick to the Fox Sports channels and see NCAA women's softball on Foxtel, wondering why the NBL can't attract such support here in this country!

Then I cry even more when I see free to air telecasts of a cricket game in Dubai played in front of zero crowd with the atmosphere of a chess match being played in a prison cell!

But hey, that's just me being sensitive I guess...

Reply #530259 | Report this post


Baller#3  
Years ago

Maybe we can see the beginning of the DODO league...

But seriously I think they should go straight to fox sports for a 2-3 years and couple that with a better streaming service. Then if the league grows in those few years look for some free to air. I personally think the best deal long term would be on all three forms, with a TV deal much like the A-league.

In regards to the expansion, they need to get into Brisbane ASAP and 1 more market to try get the league to 10 teams. Then build around those 10 teams for a while before expanding further.

Reply #530262 | Report this post


Baller#3  
Years ago

Also once the league grows a little, I actually think it would be a good thing to get a second melbourne team in. The rivalry it creates could possibly boost united if anything

Reply #530263 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The Rivalry between the Tigers and *second melbourne team* has always been among the best in the league and good for all parties. The "old brand" that people either loved or hated against the new young fresh brand. It worked really well. I was as disappointed as anyone when the Dragons folded, even after they'd beaten the Tigers in the finals because that crowd, and the rivalry had become really great.

Problem being now, United has, by the way it has positioned itself, a second team coming in doesnt have that insta rival. Its two new brands that people barely know.

Reply #530268 | Report this post


bethdavis10  
Years ago

Unless the Melbourne Tigers brand gets re-launched. Provided the Executive Director of the NBL and co-owner of Melbourne United allows that to happen.

Reply #530270 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Can you really see a man with his ego doing that?

"I couldn't make the Melbourne Tigers Brand work, so I gave up on it, but I think you should have a chance to do it".

Not a chance.

Reply #530272 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Be interesting to gaugue the replies on this and see how many are positive and how many are negative. From that you will get a great idea of why our game is o far down the toilet that it will take a huge effort to pull it out.

We can all sit on here and talk a whole heap of shit. This guy has put his money behind it and backed it up. Yes he has the means but that is besides the point, I love this game and if this guy can start leading it back to where it was then I am all for it.

Hopefully our balling community can actually unite and get behind something rather then the usual shit slinging.

Reply #530345 | Report this post


BMF  
Years ago

Tigers are dead unfortunately!

I hope this is able to catapult the league into something, rather than the nothing it is at present with minimal TV coverage and news stories that are too far between.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Anon^ I don't think there has been that much negative slinging of the manure as you may think! Perhaps it is you that should ease up with the language there pal?

Reply #530349 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Does this guy care about marketing at all?

If so, the league has a chance.

Reply #530353 | Report this post


BMF  
Years ago

I think thats one of his selling points, advertising the league and clubs..I think.

Reply #530355 | Report this post


NBL Fan  
Years ago

If they they sign with Fox they will do promotions on their own channels anyway. I reckon a 2-3 year deal with Fox would be good but a hybrid Fox/Free to air deal would obviously be the best.

Reply #530377 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

What would be the point of this if it's to go backwards from FTA to Foxtel?

The NBL now have the money to ensure the league stays on FTA.

Reply #530379 | Report this post


Dazz  
Years ago

Upon reflection, it might be a good thing to retain Wade and the NBL board. Even if they have nothing to do for now, it puts them in a position to step back in and take over if Kestleman screws up.

I've seen nothing in what he says to suggest the magic fix people are expecting.
BUT, that said, if at the end of the day he spends $6M of his own money on advertising, then that's a good thing, even if it only lasts for a few years.
Plus, if he is promising an $X spend on TV advertising, that may leverage a slightly BETTER TV deal out of ten.

Getting the Brisbane bid back on track is vitally important for the future of the league.
Then potentially the Wellington Saints bid, and hopefully Kestleman will be friendlier to Mills' bid than Neill was.
And yes, I do see a 2nd Melbourne team, as being a great asset. I reckon they should be talking to Eddy and Collingwood... Didn't the Magic play in Black & White?

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Anonymous  
Years ago

The magic fix is his money. Him spending $6m is like me buying a new bbq.

The $s are not significant but require some some homework.

He got the NBL cheap and on his terms. It will take a LOT more than the $6m, but he certainly has it.

Reply #530382 | Report this post


KET  
Years ago

About time

Reply #530385 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

This is really good to see. I hope the injection of cash allows teams to continue to block fans of other teams on Twitter, or for them to be allowed to hire more DJ's as assistant coaches. Those are the sorts of things the league needs to see more of.

Reply #530403 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Brisbane is well and truly dead unfortunately. Since the wise nbl board made that stupid Blitz announcement, no one not even a Bendant wants to back it.
Plus you want to retain the clearly incompetent board members that single handedly after taking over from BA, managed in a very short time to bring the Nbl to its knees.
This is it. Last chance. Go Lk.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

How is theNBL board responsible for Wollongong Coal pulling the pin, or Townsville not selling out their tin shed? Its not even the Hawks fault the first thing occurred!

Oh, and it was Fraser Neill who promised the Brisbane team, not the board. But people lapped it up because so many just listen to only what they want to hear.

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BMF  
Years ago

WOW, so many people are negative to what should be something promising..
Nothing else was coming into the NBL with $2M per season like this guy.

LOL at the anon blocking people on twitter and DJ's as assistants!!

Sounds like youre a tool on twitter and deserved the block!!

Reply #530416 | Report this post


Camel 31  
Years ago

'It is not up to the standard required by broadcasters.' he told abctvnews.'...' so i will speak to them'

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Haz  
Years ago

Wonder if LK will pay for the NBL to be on FTA next season if no TV deal can be done.

Given that TV coverage is the biggest priority for the leagues exposure, Im guessing that paying their way onto TV will be a last resort option to take, which will make up part of the $6m that he's putting in?

Reply #530433 | Report this post


KET  
Years ago

Good to know the NBL is worth two Charlize Theron's

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/charlize-theron-promotion-for-south-yarra-apartments-cost-developer-3-million-20150527-ghaxyx.html

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Dazz  
Years ago

So THAT's his great marketing plan for the NBL?
haha

I suppose, if the complex is say a $1B project, with a $50M marketing budget, then $3M for a celebrity face, may seem like the way to go. Hard to know what motivates buyers at that end of the spectrum.

Reply #530519 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Nick Marvin was in charge of that but now I guess we will never know.

Reply #530522 | Report this post


Beantown  
Years ago

Can anyone tell us what kind of budget the NBL has had to work with over the past decade or so? Has it ever been close to $2mill per?

I'm guessing nothing like that. I don't know how skilled a businessman Kestleman is, but surely half the battle for the NBL is just having the money to employ proven professionals to run the league and market it effectively over several seasons?



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