stupid schedule in Melbourne with VJBL session starting on the 16 March. Clearly NBL doesn't want juniors going to the game just cooperates like the AFL

Pro sport doesn't take a back seat to juniors. What world do you live in?

I was there for Game 1 of the semi final series. Prices in the cheapest tier roughly $50-$55. Probably will go up for GF.

Melbourne Utd would be fuming at the game being on a Friday, the massive chance to gain a whole of new young fans shoved down the drain because it's on a Friday.

NBL still finding ways to stuff up.

No kids that play rep basketball will be able to attend with their families.
Great scheduling.

Yeah because the stadium is always full of 10,000 junior rep kids and their parents.

If you have been to a Melbourne game at all, there are TONS, I mean TONS, of kids who always show up in their rep uniforms, there are hundreds to line up along the baseline as the team warms up, and the area where the players come out of the race and onto the court for the introductions is crowded every single game. I should know, as that is where our season tickets are located.

The games have to be played on a Fri-Sun configuration. That's what broadcasters wanted. They couldn't avoid Saturday last weekend due to venue availability which meant the Utd game was on Fox Sports News. Saturday nights this time of year are packed out with every league being active. Junior sports doesn't even come into play, get over yourselves.

All good and well to say junior sport doesn't come into play, but in reality, that's the market you want to tap into, suck the kids in, get the parents involved, good word of mouth, all flows into more kids and even more parents. And for a league that has historically struggled financially, a massive opportunity to open up the Melbourne market and get more and more young people as fans has been squandered. It only adds to the feeling of a disconnection between the NBL and the juniors who actually play the sport.

When in reality you want to build that connection! It's the juniors who play basketball, where the fan loyalty comes from, making the league and the Melbourne market more sustainable and equitable.

@em.. what section do you get? Gold, silver etc

Venue availability, broadcaster requirements.

I agree the schedule is strange. No doubt they want a quick turn around of games & Monday in Adelaide or Perth may not work for broadcasters if they moved the Fri game to Sat, whilst not allowing enough recovery time for the players.

However, don't Melbourne United Sponsor or partner with the VJBL? If so, it would be disappointing, but it is what it is. We'll see what the crowd is like and then we can judge the result of their decision.

Perth Fans need not read this thread, doesnt apply to you guys.

Melbourne United will host the opening game of the Hungry Jack's NBL Grand Final Series at Hisense Arena on Friday March 16 at 7.30pm against the Adelaide 36ers.

This follows Melbourne’s heart stopping win over the New Zealand Breakers to secure its place in the Grand Final, completing a 2-0 semi-final series sweep while the Adelaide 36ers came from 18 behind to down the Perth Wildcats in The Jungle last night for their 2-0 sweep.

Melbourne secured home court advantage for the duration of the Finals after finishing on top of the ladder at the conclusion of regular season play.

The second game of the best of five game Grand Final Series will be played at Titanium Security Arena on Sunday March 18 at 3pm AEDT.

Game three will be played at Hisense Arena on Friday March 23 at 7.30pm.



Grand Final Schedule (all local times in AEDT):

Game 1 - Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers - 7:30pm Friday, March 16 at Hisense Arena

Game 2 - Adelaide 36ers vs Melbourne United - 3:00pm Sunday, March 18 at Titanium Security Arena

Game 3 - Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers - 7:30pm Friday, March 23 at Hisense Arena

Game 4 - Adelaide 36ers vs Melbourne United - Time TBC Sunday, March 25 at Titanium Security Arena

Game 5 - Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers - Time TBC Saturday, March 31 at Hisense Arena


http://www.nbl.com.au/news/article/40653-nbl-grand-final-series-schedule