Hoops

The 8th team could be Knox or Tigers

How long will Melbourne Tigers take to respond to an official invitation to re join the league.

( otherwise it's a BV composite team )

Sounds great - that's exactly what Perth asked for.
( which sounded a bit hard to get ) -But it's been done.

The eighth team is to play out of Knox when the stadium is built.

It wont be run by Knox, or Dandenong indvidually. The plan is for the team to be overseen by Basketball Victoria, with associations that wish to be involved as shareholders.

As is mentioned here, the Tigers are still very much a chance. Their bluff has been called, they dont want to miss a season, they just assumed the season would be called off when they and the Dragons pulled out.

If they decide to enter, and are allowed in, it will make interesting times for the Dragons. BA wants teams in the three big cities that are partly run by the state associations - quite rightly.

So if the Tigers are back in, the second Melbourne team will most likely come from Bball Vic, and the Dragons would have to enter a joint entity, using their brand, if they wish to resurface under those conditions.

Intriguing... But it looks reasonably likely there will be a Melbourne team, leading to a TV deal slightly better than last year, and an 8 team comp will then go ahead.

Also, dont be surprised if a pseudo government entity - ie a private company that was set up by the govt and is funded by the govt - is a naming rights or major sponsor next year.

BA will be pushing hard for govt funds, and that is an easy way for govt to provide such support without looking like they are providing charity to a pro sports league.

The fact that the stadium isnt going to be built for 18 months might pose you a slight problem

Knox would be just about in the middle (or at least on the edge) of the most populated region of basketballers on the planet. The question should be "why wouldnt you" put an NBL team right in the middle of it?

An yes it is about 45-60 minutes out of the city...but so is Dandenong...

I'm in Adelaide - so I can only go on what BA told the sixers, and that Vic Govt. is funding Knox stadium - that's all I can really say - as I don't know Melbourne all that well.
Going by the topic - if it's not Knox then -
does it follow that it's the Tigers ?

That was Mark Lewis on radio - Larry told the sixers, yesterday - that they are trying to get 8th team 'playing out of Knox'

I was driving to work this morning in Melbourne and was heading through Port melb and saw young Mr Anstey in a rather full on conversation with Giddey on the side of the road. Might have just been talking about the weather but there were lots of arms flapping about. A bit like Anstey in the post really lol

Dandenong is the Association that is more than likely going to be the one to step up if it actually happens...check the other thread relating to the 8th for the links...

Let me give you one small inside tip.................It wont be Knox. And that came from the mouth of someone very high up in the organisation.