Hoops

Proposed new model for the NBL

Ah Fox 96,
the classic pyramid scheme.
Works well if you're the point of the pyramid

Where to start but delighted to see how much thought has gone into it.

A few responses.

Firstly, understand the costs and the league pretty well. Played back in the day, and have been on a few coaching staffs since then (ancillary, rather than bench).

Isaac - Fox are giving up $6m a year for content which they absolutely control. Do you think their mainstream viewers discern the difference between locking and trialing or sitting behind a screen? They see action and teams winning and losing. Fox sees (say 10 teams as per your sums), 320 hours of live plus the endless repeats of programming. Don't tell me the soccer is above our equivalent of an ABA? If so, only marginally.

276 - that's ok, find some more players. There are no guys on benches or at ABA level that would take that opportunity. When I sell a product, people buy it because they see value in it. If they don't see value in it, they don't buy it. People aren't buying our product, they don't see the value in it. I can increase my marketing and try and convince them it's worth it, or I can try and reduce my costs of production (player's wages) to produce it at a price which they think is good value. Might not be quite the same quality, but if there are more buyers, then maybe I have a business instead of a waiting room for kids in short pants. (I know that sounds facetious but as an ex-player in the league, I'm not unsympathetic to their cause, I just don't think we can afford what they (or their agents) would like to earn).

Promotion/relegation works on 2 levels. Firstly, it assumes that the current disparity (produced by unsustainable budgets and player wages) would diminish courtesy of a drop in standard (remember that we can't afford the current wages of our top players and many would, in fact, pursue better money overseas) plus a relative increase in the standard of ABA programs as there was a genuine incentive for them to build their program which had access to the NBL. There would also obviously be some movement between relegated and promoted teams.

Good for Motts, it will happen all the time but because he's a local product we'll be delighted he's doing well and will enjoy the reflected glory of him playing OS - much like how the PGA tour is much more interesting when an Aussie is in contention.

me - I agree with everybody that says we'll lose quality players. But I think a) not as many as you think (did Luke Kendall immediately head OS hen left out in the sun after the Kings demise) and b) the diminished standard would not be evident to casual observer (the fans we are currently missing out on!).

289 - you may be right - there's nothing in it which would work, but what's in the current model which works? I threw it up to create discussion, not change the world, or even the league. While I'm here - define works? 10 competitive, viable teams playing an exciting brand of basketball enjoyed by capacity crowds with an opportunity for every town in Australia to host one of these teams? The atmosphere created by the Unley boys at the Unley girls GF at the NSBT this week was better than most NBL games these days. I'm about to head back over the the boys game and the join will be jumping.

I'm only convinced that the AFL has a model which works and is so culturally entrenched that its impossible to replicate (much as high school football is in Texas). The NRL is a basket case, soccer simply has a richer group of owners and access to a worldwide pool of funds via Asia and the World Cup.

DDFan - I agree, human nature tends to bring most excellence undone!! Look at what's happened to the NBL lately. There is no people-proofing any system. Clearly, we need some incentives/strategies for rewarding outstanding performance but perhaps that comes from opportunity, a la the D league or US colleges. When you are filling the joint (have created demand) then you can start to premium price for differential seating. The problem is when you have not yet created demand and manufacture disincentives to attend.

Keep thrashing and understand that it won't be the same - perhaps you'll see Brett Maher develop for 3 years before heading OS to ply his trade but hopefully will be around to be able to follow the next Brett Maher, and better yet, he'll be from your area more often than not.

The NBL isn't working because the management and governance structure is not correct.

Soccer was in a similar disasterous state a couple of years ago until a large broom went through and got rid of deadwood and started a new slate.

Rugby League was a similar disaster before super league shook everything up.

The AFL is working well by default. The Mebourne-centric sport is tightly held and controlled to maintain its image. Draws are maniuplated to attract the largest crowds possible and emphasis is on growing the sport at the expense of traditional support (eg Look at how many $M will be poured into GC17 to dominate that market, and how many $M have been pumped into non-profitable Melbourne clubs)

The NBL needs a similar model, but one which is not as viscious as this AFL model.

The home grown bonus is a good idea. They do it in AFL footy.

When a local lad made the SANFL, our local team got some $, and then when he played his first AFL game, the SANFL club got some $ as did the first club.