Hoops

2nd Melbourne Team - Official bid to BA submitted

Another story about the new Scoresby stadium being built...

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/basketball/purposebuilt-venue-shoots-for-the-stars-20111221-1p5j4.html

Knox Basketball, the venue manager, wants the centre to eventually host an NBL team and WNBL side Bulleen Boomers as early as next year.

NBL officials are crunching the numbers from a bid for a new Melbourne NBL club, one which Knox Basketball chief executive Wayne Carroll believes could become the united face of south-east Melbourne basketball. The NBL is expected to announce any new teams next month.

Advertisement: Story continues below The bid, which is yet to take a name and won't publicly announce itself unless given an NBL licence, has independent financial backing and won't ask leading clubs such as Knox, Kilsyth, Sandringham and other associations for money.

Instead, those associations will provide players, coaches and access to their members - a level of support previous Melbourne NBL clubs have lacked. Knox and Kilsyth alone have about 9000 registered players each.

The show court at the centre will seat about 3160 supporters; the six-court venue is expected to open in March.

Melbourne Tigers have no interest in playing at Wantirna South and are contracted at the State Netball and Hockey Centre through the 2013-2014 NBL season.

Bulleen operations manager Robyn Maher said her club was yet to commit to the stadium and would look at its options in February.

The new venue is well underway and will be primarily a basketball venue. Not sure what the capacity will be, but you must hope for at least 4.5k to be legitimate.
The Dragons did a mighty job of recruiting supporters when they started, working all the local stadiums and junior comps. Any new side that hopes to be successful must do the same. There is a long held theory that Melbourne's East is ripe to host another NBL Club. Need more than theories however to get a side up that lasts longer than the Dragons.
Speaking of the Dragons, what was their rationale for folding??

huh?

Perhaps the league would be wise to look more at the 2000-4000 venues and attendances. It feels at times the NBL is always trying to hang on to it's 90's times and have teams play out of venues that don't suit their attendance.

Perhaps more community based teams with better tie ins to the businesses and fans around them is a better move going forward to keep the league alive and successful.

The Pathway aspect was a key to getting the Associations backing I believe...

And I am also led to believe that Andrew Bogut is one of the key backers...

If a 2nd club is likely to happen, it would be best for them to be based out of the city and in the suburbs. Clubs like Knox, Dandenong, Kilsyth and even Frankston have major club support and many games on per week.

Corporate support from a major sponsor would be harder to find however in saying that, Dandenong has always had Jayco as a sponsor and thats never been relinquished.

Clubs in the Dandenong/Kilsyth/Upwey and Upper Ferntree Gully areas have always looked after their sponsors and I tend to believe this would be the best result for a second club. Go to the people rather than they come to you.

Fairly sure I recall reading about the "lack of" following for the Tigers in the NBL at present despite the memberships and attendance.

I'm sure the news that more teams are interested in joining the comp may provide some stimulus to the league, but at present I've been disappointed with the Kings return. Not due to the performance, but more the attendance.

I would love to have had Sydney rivaling Adelaide with attendance in the 4.5-6.5k bracket per game, but I don't see it until the Kings become a finals contender on a regular basis ala Goorjean's Kings.

Here's hoping this new team has a 10 year plan in place so that they last longer than the dragons did

You heard it here first.

"POTW Round 4

Todd Mattews (17pts, 10rbs, 7ast, 7stl)

Allstar 5
PG - Todd Mattews (17pts, 10rbs, 7ast, 7stl)
SG - Jarrod Graves (32pts, 7rbs, 3stl)
SF - Luke Mapunda (22pts, 11rbs, 4ast)
PF - Shane Brehney (24pts, 13rbs)
C - Dan Lalic (32pts 10rbs)

Special Mentions
Cameron Wilson (27pts 7rbs, 9ast)
Matthew Clarke (17pts, 6rbs, 7ast)
Marcus Ng (25pts, 6rbs, 6ast)
Justin Clayton (19pts, 14rbs)
Kane Oakley (20pts, 11rbs)

Feel free to critique. Back up your critiques with other suggestions. The guards of the ABL had the better week."

AND

"POTW Round 4

Dee Ranford (29pts, 5rbs, 3stl)

Allstar 5
PG - Erin Lorinzini (23pts, 8rbs, 2stl)
SG - Dee Ranford (29pts, 5rbs, 3stl)
SF - Lauren King 17pts, 9rbs, 4stl)
PF - Kate Malpass (20pts, 9rbs, 3ast)
C - Kerrin Truslove (16pts, 11rbs, 2blk)

Special Mentions
Hannah Bowley (12pts, 10rbs, 2ast)
Jodie Barratt (14pts, 13rbs)
Amanda Williams (18pts, 7rbs, 5ast)"

Wonder if professor still wants to debate my selections.

On a side note I think these two were worthy winners. There was a comment about Wilson consistency. I have to say I agree that he may well average close to a triple double in each game this year.