Hoops

NBL announce that Brisbane are back

Just to clear up: Bullets 100% for the name!

Also, Sydney Spirit were actually the West Sydney Razorbacks. The Kings folded before that season began. So the Kings and Spirit were 2 separate franchises.

Once Sydney returned to the NBL, it was the Kings' franchise that entered.

I ask all my friends who don't follow NBL and they can only name one team and that is the Brisbane Bullets. Even for non-basketball fans it is recognisable.

People outside of Queensland need to understand this.

Particularly if the owner of the name (Grove's estate?) wants more than nominal money for it.

I agree it should be Bullets but if it wasn't I don't think it would be one of the worst decisions in the history of sport.

Crocsfan why do you think that Brisbane needs a new start. I think that Brisbane needs to keep the Bullets name but I would like to hear your point of view.

What I meant was Gibson and Goulding were both born in Tassie. I'm not sure how long they lived there.

Article on brisbanetimes.com today regarding the Bullets return:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/basketball/cut-the-dribble--just-bring-back-the-bullets-20140923-10l1p8.html

Wouldn't Gibson and Goulding be just as 'obvious' for the Tassie franchise?

I don't think there's any such thing as obvious players for a franchise in this professional era. You play where the money or situation is beast for you, then retire where you want to live.

Yup, Convention Centre is approx 4000 for basketball. The venue layout works well enough, despite having not having a complete circle bowl around the court.

Name wise, considering the NBL/BBI itself was promoting the Blitz as "Brisbane Reloaded" on the arena staff shirts with a stylised bullet hole graphic on the "O", I can't see them having too much of an issue with the name.

Agree with above posters, Abe Polian got rid of the Bullets name for DC due to the fact that they had one of, if not the highest violent crime rate in the US during the mid-90's. Brisbane has no such issue as far as I'm aware of from 10+ years living here.

How about boomerangs...........they always come back !!!!

They didn't close the roof for Pat Rafter Arena because they wanted it to be an open air arena that would replicate the conditions of the Australian Open. Hopefully they can sort something out.

Is the BCEC around 4,000 seats?

Agreed, transport to PR Arena isn't great either. Then again Chandler is no better (perhaps worse) and apparently the rent on the BCEC is ridiculous. Then again, if the NBL is bankrolling this, maybe they'll be prepared to foot the bill for the sake of a central location for games near the CBD. This can obviously make a huge difference, as Perth Arena has shown and as Melbourne are hoping the move to Hisense will likewise when trying to attract the post-work rollup crowd.

Convention centre isn't the greatest Bball venue but I think if they're serious it's the best bet.

Fantastic to see a Brissie team are once again on the warpath to greatness (Bullets please!). I'll be there with season tix from the outset no matter name/arena. However...

I fear Rafter Arena would be a massive mistake though. It would all but doom the new venture to certain failure. Brisbane sports fans are incredibly fickle creatures and our summer evenings can be particularly brutal affairs. It's often still around the 30 degree mark late into the eve with humidity pushing 100%. I've been to a Bris Open night session and it's an abysmal experience. Why they didn't enclose the thing is beyond me.

The hardcore fan with happily mop their brow while drenched in sweat and sit there for a couple hours waving a fan in front of their face, but the success or otherwise of this venture is entirely dependent on attracting the casual fan.

People want to *escape* the heat, and two hours in an air conditioned theater for similar outlay is going to prove a far more enticing proposition for many I suspect.

First world problems and all I know, but it just wont work if people don't go.

Ah ok, must admit was worried they would head back to Brisbane next season, looks like atleast Joey cant which hopefully means Gibbo also stays.

Honestly I would be embarrassing to be supporting a team called the Wizards or even as a possible bid group said the Spartans.

Not many people associate a basketball team with death and violence anyway.

I also hope that Pat Rafter arena is considered as an option for a few games.

Well Matthew you obviously are not from Brisbane as most people up here are very familiar with the Bullets brand and want it back.

I don't think another name would get anywhere near as much publicity and I know a few Bullets legends would be very disappointed if they went with a different name.

I dont think they need to bring the Brisbane bullets back. They need to bring back a sustainable basketball Franchise. Sustainable. Not flash in the pan for 5-6 years years then dies a horrible death.

Id prefer if they picked a new name.

Yep - 2015 will see Brisbane with a team in the NBL!

Another step in hopefully the right direction for the NBL.

It is official. SO HAPPY