Hoops

Bendigo should get the next NBL team

Hobart is already in.

Anon, you are on the money, so to speak. Geelong didn't work, yeah like South East Melbourne, Coburg, South Dragons and the list goes on didn't work.

How many of those franchises had a 4,000 seat show court to use like Bendigo have just built? In those days it was very different, so Nannaisalwayswrong!

"In saying that, Cairns and Illawarra work well but big business needs to support a NBL franchise"
This exactly the opposite of what Kestleman wants for new franchises.
He wants small ownerships groups without having to rely on big business to see clubs through.
Grassroots basketball is equally important and all new franchises will have to address that issue as well.

Geelong didn't work and that was a town at the time of 245,000, now some 335,000.

In saying that, Cairns and Illawarra work well but big business needs to support a NBL franchise and unemployment as well as business haven't got the money in central Victoria. The Braves are as far as they can go

Harvey assisting with the Hawks as an Asst. I notice.

I meant to say Adel left the seabl. Apologies

A 2nd division comp could potentially work in the East. But you already have the SEABL

SA left the seabl. Brisbane too. NSW as well. Aint gonna happen.

Sorry fellas I meant it is a great town

The bloke who started this thread must have read my mind.

Bendigo is a great team with friendly people.

It would also strike a blow against kickball which is bloody dominant.

Never a good star5 when yo7 have to start your sales pitch with ‘hear me out’ it’s a massive no from me. Large cities with large potential for growth only or leave the league as is.

It's hard to think of viable expansion plans, because we just don't have enough decent sized cities.

The Tigers at local level have nothing SFA.
No home, no money and other than lots if kids playing for them, nothing.
Their Seabl entry is poor.
Gaze gone. Proving how bad he was.

No. I’m against anymore regional teams entering the league for now. A second Melbourne team should be the first priority. Not sold on Hobart or Wellington.

Cairns population just under 140k. Would have been close to current Bendigo population when they entered the league. There are some similarities, strong well established SEABL/QBL presence, regional centre with natural sponsors. That being said, we're in different times, I would think Bendigo would be pretty far down the totem pole as far as possible entrance.

Yeah, nah.
Harvey can coach but as already mentioned the WNBL team isn't that great.
Their mens seabl team draws not many, despite the dollars being spent and their recent success's has done nothing to draw any more people. It will be interesting to see how long the 4000 seat stadium is used for in a seabl season. The novelty will soon wear off I expect and the crowd numbers will go back to normal.
I don't think regional teams are the answer at all.
Why not Ballarat? Penrith? West Sydney? Kalgoorlie?
Hobart are already in discussion and should be the next team in. The NBL are planning games there next season already.

Bendigo isn’t the largest inland city in Australia.
Both Canberra and Toowoomba are both bigger.
Besides that, I don’t think Bendigo’s size is big enough to support an NBL side from a sponsorship point of view.
Plenty of bigger centres that are definitely in front of them purely based on population:
Ie Hobart, Canberra, Newcastle, Geelong, Gold Coast

Visiting family and as we speak having a coffee in the Coffee Club

Bendigo is a good town, in fact I’m here now!

Any team must be strong off court.
Bendigo is slightly larger than Cairns so the draw for spectators should be there. As far as viability is concerned they would need to do their sums. The natural sponsors are Bendigo Bank and La Trobe Uni whose focus is on rural health.

The big question is how would it fit into the leagues plan?

Bendigo can barely support a WNBL team with about 7 people in attendance each home game. Are we sure the NBL will survive there? Townsville kills it with their WNBL team (big crowds) but they couldn't keep an NBL team afloat.

No point having a population of 115000 as a selling point when only 4000 can attend. There would be minimal opportunity for commercial growth.

NO.