Hoops

NBL wants to double the amount of teams

Interesting Baller, in your scenario do B grade teams have only 1 import?

Whilst I don't like your idea much I will admit the idea that B grade teams need to be creative to get their numbers up intrigues me and it could work.

I'd hope that we can watch B grade on NBL.tv as well but it feels like their will be a tremendous talent raid every off-season and I'm not sure how much players will want to be loyal to a B grade team year after year if they want 'big time' notice

My thoughts on the matter here - http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/10/23/a-16-team-nbl-slow-down-there-fraser/

Overambitious expansion talk is something we've all heard before, so Neill would be well advised to steer away from that.

Don't disagree with most of that HO, but I still like the fact that he isn't just sitting back and waiting for time to pass, at least he is offering some insight into a possible future.

Yes, always we need to consider the i's need dotting and t's crossing, not denying that lots of work will need to be done and maybe there isn't much detail in the sky gazing, as you have put it, however the thought process seems to be one which is at least heading in a direction we would like it to...

If you build it, they will come mate!

I disagree with second Sydney team. Just wouldn't work we already know how bad Sydney is at supporting sports teams. They have done alright though with Kings but I think they are a one city team.

Come on HO, naive, really... I have been called a lot worse I guess, but maybe hopeful would have been more accurate. Oh and I know you were referring to my post and not me, so let's not go down that road again...

I am hopeful though, not naive, about an NBL expansion and I will give you some insight as to why, because I like you:)

See, I reckon that the new CEO isn't a dummy and in history you can often recall people who were ridiculed for expressing their dreams or speaking their mind of things others just can't see.

I am of the opinion that our new boss is a little more of a risk taker than his predecessors, a dreamer if you will, a visionary, but he's not going to rush into things head on like the old bull in the china shop.

So, avoiding the mistakes of the past in this league and others before it, learning from those mistakes and still possessing the longer term strategic plan to expand is to me something positive, I like hearing positive news like this.

If we expand to only 2 or 3 teams more than now in that 5 year period, will you and others call him a failure or a success? He would have achieved more in that time than his predecessors, so I would say it should be seen as a success. Maybe you have a contrary view, so be it!

Think about this, Bendigo is in the heartland of the state (Vic) and already has a successful WNBL team and SEABL team, they are about to expand their already impressive 7 court stadium into two more and maybe a show court if my mail is correct.

They will have poker machines, a huge stadium with rooms and venues for hire and could be a second or third Victorian team in that 5 year period...

Just one example of something others may not even consider that may happen and with it a surge in the sport's popularity, exposure and revenue.

I won't even speculate on what could occur in Melbourne with the Hisense Arena becoming available or the State Basketball Centre in Knox being underused, etc... etc... And this is just in our state down here in Mexico!

Think outside the square my friend, it won't hurt one bit, I promise...

HO,out of interest do you know how many other professional sport clubs across the codes are teetering??

50/60 percent??

A new CEO comes in and makes positive statements about expansion and starts to sound like someone who has a vision beyond that of the length of his contract, how refreshing good on him.

Of course we need to start looking at how this can be accommodated, but I agree with his projections, at least on the face of it.

Plenty to consider if it was to go to that many teams, but I for one like the thinking of expand, don't sit still and just accept mediocrity because we have had too much of that lately.

Why is he saying this stuff HO? Well, I am guessing it is because we can't sit still and we can't go backwards, so what choice has the NBL but to try to explore options for expansion.

Positive press folks, let's get used to it...

Wait, in the next FIVE seasons??

Good, good....