Hoops

Phoenix to Magic. United to Tigers.

Why are you surprised? It's hoops.com.au

AFL's GWS has the Giants name so you may have a legal tussle there if you wanted to bring the Giants back.

AFL's GWS has the Giants name so you may have a legal tussle there if you wanted to bring the Giants back.

People are forgetting the reason the Tigers name was given the flick. The Tigers junior club had kids with rich parents who would send their kids to private schools and their kids had a silver spoon in their mouth. Apparently the resentment of them from the rest of the basketball community stopped them supporting the Tigers brand on that basis alone. Correct me if I'm wrong but that's the reason I read in an article at the time why they went ahead with the name change.

Magic was a great team and a great name. But I'm not confident the name has left its mark on Melbourne, like the Bullets and the Kings have on their respected cities. I tend to think the threat of a legal tussle with the NBA likely probably turned them off going down that path. I vaguely remember reading however the NBA objections of South East Melbourne back in the day using the name 'Magic' was defeated in the courts because they ruled no organisation should have copyright on the name 'Magic'. But it's only vague recollection reading an article and once again I could be wrong.

Interesting, Lions sound much better

Interesting. Didn't know about their 1983 aborted season.

As far as I can tell they were the Launceston Casino City Tigers until after the 1982 season, at which point they lost Casino City, changed their name to the Lions, and then withdrew from the league/folded before the season even started, with Devonport rushed in to replace them.

The above photo, which lists Ruthergien as the sponsor, is from the 1983 NBL Media Guide.

Why does Wikipedia say Launceston City Casino Tigers and not Lions?

I’m confused now.

Bring back Bankstown Bruins.

Crazy they even had a team and won.

Google 1981 NBL

Champion: Launceston Casino City Tigers

I've seen them referred to as the Lions in a couple of places, IIRC.

They used the format of location/sponsor rather than location/nickname to be more specific, but they were definitely the Tigers.

Casino City were the sponsors. Tigers was Launceston's nickname.

Bring back the Crocs!

Yeah I see the Tiger banners at the games.

Because hoops.com.au

As in the same issue that prevented the GC from using 'Heat' and TVL changing from Suns to Crocs?

Were there issues with NBA copyright and using Magic? As in the same issue that prevented the GC from using 'Heat' and TVL changing from Suns to Crocs? I'd imagine at the very least there might have been a royalty payment that the owners were trying to avoid?

I remember South East Melbourne having survey for the public to come up with the teams name.

I have a feeling Tommy Greer and the owners didn’t listen any of the public’s names.

Can’t believe Sydney Kings got their license back.

I can see the Razorbacks coming back to the NBL because Western Sydney is booming and still growing. Look at WSW in A-League, if they can get support the Razorbacks are more likely then Tigers or Magic.

Tigers are more likely to be back then Magic, how about North Melbourne Giants?

Bol, are you from Melbourne?

I think for people outside of Melbourne the Tigers is a great brand. But in Melbourne having a team that plays locally put a ceiling on support. The brand was hindering growth.

United isn't steeped in the history the Tigers had, that was a feature, not a flaw. And judging by the numbers it has worked.

The Magic were the team I feared most.

Mackinnon, Rose, Ronaldson and I think Smith, those teams they had were damn good.

Bol +1

Razorbacks please. Get rid of Kings.

Even if you loved them or hated them i remembered as a kid the magic and the tigers were great brands with passionate supporters which even as an opposition supporter i really liked. Now United feels like it has no identity of its own and its branding is unappealing also.

South East Melbourne Phoenix barely get 3,000 spectators a game.

South East Melbourne Phoenix barely get 3,000 spectators a game.

They could have cashed in on the Tiger King fandom

Yeah naaahh

I think if Phoenix chose Magic especially with the their history, they would of had more members.

Games never been better than last season. Even nba clubs change names and move cities. It happens sometimes to get progress.

NBL in the 90’s were the best.
#bringthemback

Tigers never left, their banners still hang at United home games.

Bring both back!

I messaged LK it better sink in, we need a petition guys!

Could get a million signatures but its never going to happen.

#CoronaBoredom

No, no, no.

It wasn't about a toxic culture, it was about brand appeal. The Tigers brand simply didn't appeal to many who have to play against them at rep level week in week out. It was a cap on their potential supporter base.

I 100% agree, both with rich history.

The NBL should move to summer and create a business model that is of interest to football clubs. In Europe they have super clubs where football (soccer) and basketball clubs are all owned by the same group.

This could work for football and give clubs a revenue stream in the summer and lots of opportunities to value add to sponsors, with the ability to operate at a lower cost with economies of scale.