Hoops

Wellington ANBL bid remain positive

I reckon when Wellington get accepted into the NBL, we won't have much worries about them financially and for that reason more than any other; I see them being a positive fur the league in much the same way as the Breakers have been (even considering their early days)

Doomsday Double, Sunshine Swing ... Kiwi Calamity?

NZ could support 2 but I don't believe a South Island team would be feasible in the long term

8 teams is not enough and if NZ can support a 2nd team it is wonderful for the league.

Just wish Brisbane would get there funk on and get the Bullets back - do Rucker and Loggins have kids?

MACDUB, I do understand your point with regards to a 6 team league damaging the NBL's brand, but if Townsville and Wollongong could fold at any moment (based on hoops posts and articles this is true), this is an unacceptable situation. Conceding that fans don't "show up" for reasons beyond the clubs and the league is equally unacceptable.

Having existing clubs fold damages the league as a whole, similarly to the NBL's brand.

It's not as if Adelaide's in a sustainable financial position either, from what I understand. Moreover, if Townsville and Wollongong are the league's "weak links", then what would under-financed expansion teams be classified as?

My point is not to rush into expansion when there are solvable problems (IMO) with the NBL's current structure.

Definitely no second Sydney team. Sydney has always had a bad culture for attending most sports. Hopefully the Brisbane bid can get moving soon and be accepted when the time comes.

Playmaker,

The problem is that Wollongong and Townsville could be gone at any minute (and there wouldn't be anything the NBL could do about it..if the fans don't show up the fans don't show up).

And then if you lose those teams the whole comp would fall over because you can't have a 6 team pro league IMO.

We need to move forward and can't afford the weak links dragging the chain.

I think a strong direction is needed and a strong business case. There was something in the Crowvertiser regarding AD's reign and over that time the attendances to games has been static at 33,000/game (ave), yet the revenues have doubled.

The AFL income streams have increased off the oval and I think if the NBL focus on increasing the off court income streams so that the league in general can support smaller clubs, then the league will be in a better place.

For the NBL to be considered an Australasian league, we need another team (at least) from our friends across the ditch.

We're going over the top when mentioning a 2nd Sydney team.

Crazy idea: focus on retaining the existing clubs given the struggles at Wollongong and Townsville, then turn our attention to expanding the NBL to Eastern Melbourne, Wellington, and possibly Brisbane.