Hoops

Hawks "collapsed"

Cannons licence moving from Canberra to Newcastle and then Singapore would suggest otherwise.

Re: new owners/locations:

In one respect, there is an up-side. I would guess that there will never be a worse situation to face in your program than this pandemic (maybe war). The current owners, and the rest of the world, had no idea of what was in store, but they are battling through, severely damaged in most cases. The new owner(s) of any team(s) can at least plan from start rather than from behind the 8 ball. Small point, perhaps, but maybe a silver lining?

There is heavy interest and backing in Newcastle especially with new facilities being built for a WNBL team

Canberra and Wellington are interested too, seems these 3 are front runners as next to obtain a licence

There are talks of a Newcastle team getting a licence could potentially take Wollongong's

This is the first ive heard of Bullets having troubles...

The bad news

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/buyers-fail-to-pay-up-in-glittering-south-yarra-mega-development-20200514-p54sze.html

The good news

https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6764930/nbl-talks-positive-afl-on-hold-premier/

Apparently the DEC is funded

Proud

Hawks used to do that in 1990s.

Matt Campbell and Glen Saville used to run school clinics, leading in to 2000 Paralympics. As Olympic and Para host, there was a lot of funding around that was shared around Sydney, NSW and even nationally.

Can that still be done without funding from somewhere?

Why can't you get your players going to schools and trying to embrace the community and be seen amongst the community?

I've never heard them ever being active like say the Perth Wildcats are and you'd imagine it would be easier to reach a higher % of the community in the Illawarra (or Townsville) than a capital city and I understand that local businesses would be disgruntled but if you try and appeal to school children then surely that good will can turn into members when they become adults and even a revisit at sponsorships from their respective work places... but Hawks still need to take care of those that take care of them and that should be non negotiable.

Sorry Zodiac. Missed the except. If they had an officially low 2000 number you can bet it was a mid - high range 1000 number. Take that to the bank.

Move them until you find a town that will embrace them

Read again what I said anon. The other anon was trying to justify the Hawks poor crowds by the scheduling yet NBL crowds across the board were at record highs.

Man I wish people wouldn't just assume shit because someone said it's true.
"Crowds aren't down though they're up and at record highs just not in the Gong though."
The Hawks average crowd was 3382 over the last 15 home games. A high of 5064 NYE last year and a low of 2273 4/2/19.

Crap at the best for a venue that holds about 6000 people in basketball mode.

Even though there isn't much to discuss as the Hawks are still alive and will be playing in the NBL next season and probably for a few more years yet eventually when the Hawks do fold their fans will have no one else to blame but themselves.

If you have ever lived in Wollongong you would realise when the steel works basically got rid of everyone and so many people either have to work in Sydney or not work at all money for sporting events just doesn't make sense.

Going to any sport is a luxury then you have the NBL who play games on stupid nights like Thursday and Monday and you wonder why crowds are down.

You think Kim Welch did a better job, he is part of the reason the Hawks are in this position with the 2 previous owners

Yep both owned by wealthy people who were prepared to back both times without worrying about the cost.

I agree it affects the television product - AFL to an empty stadium is far less enjoyable to watch on TV than a packed stadium.

When it comes to soccer...I mean most games are boring for 90% of the time, if you take a crowd away I’m not sure it even really matters!

That sounds harsh, but I think with soccer you need to really really really be invested in your club to get that entertainment factor, where you are on edge every moment. I was that way with the 2006 WC because it had the makings of a dream run.

I could watch a game of basketball or AFL where I’m not invested in either team and not fussed about the outcome and enjoy it

Soccer is in the Olympics just as under 23?

Basketball has its own World Cup.

The value factor is the Olympic gold medal - the best players stay in for the Olympics they don’t for the World Cup

Why would you live there, what a ripoff. I know someone Sydney born and raised in an inner city box with a $1mil+ loan. How depressing.

West wanderers have struggled for crowds since they have been losing. Sydney is one of the most expensive towns in the world to live in, Jack ain’t far away from the truth, tollways getting across Sydney are also very expensive.

I think west Sydney wanderers do ok.

Agreed Aleague is going downhill nationwide generally.

Haha Jack Toft, the daily grind in Sydney and sheer costs is reason enough to avoid living there!

NBL Sydney had one "Event" last year and that was the Lamelo game where they drew 17,000.

"Sport in NSW generally is going downhill fast."

Yep, the average mortgage in Sydney is about $800K, so there's not much left for fun. Slave, slave, slave. Wake up before dawn, get on a tollway, breckie at Maccas, park in a car park, work in a cubicle pushing papers or cutting code for 10 to 12 hours, then drive home, sleep, repeat....

"A-League crowds I suppose they do ok"

A-League crowds in Sydney and nationwide are "trash" (nod to Lovebroker) when you factor in how much media attention they get and the money they recieve from Fox Sports to prop them up.

A league has been crap except for the derby, swans closer to 30,000. Sydney’s transport infrastructure is poor. WEC has no parking, not close to public transport .

Sport in NSW generally is going downhill fast.

NRL has crap attendances
RU is basically dead
Swans average what 35k?
Kings are doing better now than ever really, but they haven't compared to Melbourne or Perth over the last decade or two
A-League crowds I suppose they do ok

Just thinking back and the '05 GF between the two was huge as an already bitter rivalry faced off in a final with traveling fans and the media behind it although it failed to live up to the hype as SYD won 3-0. Such a shame recollecting on the rivalry and how it's fallen. Didn't realise until the thread how it's declined into an after thought. The epic 3-2 between SYD and WSR the year before also. NSW pro basketball's peak. Sad the state of affairs now.

Probably followed the NBL around 1997ish.

Just never had that feeling, but then again never frequented Sydney until the last 3-4 years.

Actually the rivalry simmered down with the Kings demise due to Firepower. So those years in the wilderness didn't help matters.

Hawks-Kings has always been huge until recently with the slow demise of the former.

I'm surprised at the questions about it - how long have you been following NBL for?

When Hawks were still relevant there was even a fight between fans outside the stadium in Wollongong (mid 2000s).

Hawks-Kings has always been huge until recently with the slow demise of the former.

I'm surprised at the questions about it - how long have you been following NBL for?

When Hawks were still relevant there was even a fight between fans outside the stadium in Wollongong (mid 2000s).

Doesn't really feel like a rivalry tbh

Tory Lavell and Lamello Ball on Twitter. All up nbl now.

Does the rivalry come from Sydney Kings pinching Illawarra players? Eg.
Saville.
Justin Withers.
Hubbard (Greg I think).

Curious to know from Sydney members whether the Hawks disappearing from the landscape makes their packages less appealing?

According to the Kings and Hawks websites, yes, traditional arch rivals in fact. For example:

“A couple of notable dates to lock in your diary are, Sunday December 16 and Saturday January 5 when the Hawks will take on traditional arch rivals The Sydney Kings and NBA Star Andrew Bogut at Win Entertainment Centre”

- https://www.hawks.com.au/news/article/hawks-to-host-reigning-champions-in-blockbuster-opening-to-nbl-season

Smith was happy to chuck in 25% but nbl said no, only one owner per team. There is local owner waiting with support of the Balls 25%, nba guys like to own basketball teams but not even most them can afford the nba. At present I believe that contracts have been signed on new ownership but licence price is a sticking point.
Hawks are worth nothing so not certain anyone would buy a license.

Kings v Hawks rivalry is a thing??

In my opinion, best case scenario: Hawks find a well suited buyer, the franchise is rejuvinated and the club starts to grow and be viable and have success.

Curious to know from Sydney members whether the Hawks disappearing from the landscape makes their packages less appealing?

It was my understanding there is a strong rivalry between the teams which helps the Kings attract members more so than perhaps teams from another state/country (other than perhaps Melbourne).

I think the NBL needs the Kings to be as strong as possible to maintain media interest.

Unlike Townsville, I wonder whether the NBL considers Sydney's viability being eroded if Illawarra drop out of the competition, which is why the League won't let it happen (if it can).

Originally there was a 50/50 deal done with Ball and a local investor. The NBL said no. The NBL then tried to get a 51% Ball ownership and 49% new investor of their own and the Ball group said no.
LK still wanting $10 mill for the licence FFS. Not sure where it is at now.

In my opinion, best case scenario: Hawks find a well suited buyer, the franchise is rejuvinated and the club starts to grow and be viable and have success.

Medium case scenario: Hawks find a buyer, continue to play to ensure theres at least 9 teams in the comp and its up to the people of Wollongong to come out and support the team - eg similar struggle to how its been.

Scenario i can live with: Hawks get wound up and the league moves on without them (hate seeing any club fold, but i really dont feel sorry for them). End of the day the care factor in Wollongong is pretty low.

Worst case scenario: NBL owns the club, they continue to play, but the club is worse off / neglected, and the league doesnt doesnt benefit at all, Hawks eventually fold in a few years, only prolonging the inevitable.

The NBL have been very good at putting out statements when things occur or rumours rumble. Props to them - previous administrations wouldn’t have been this competent.

This must be the like the fourth Hawks related statement they’d be getting close to tired emphasising the same thing so they’ve kept it short and sharp.

It’s clear they’re pushing for Hawks to be in next season and it’s apparent there is interested buyers, the liquidation process doesn’t stop that.

NBL:

“As we announced when the club was put into voluntary administration, the NBL is in discussions with a number of interested parties and we are well progressed towards finding the next owners of the franchise."

""A total of eight players started receiving the first instalments of their remaining salary and superannuation entitlements last month and all payments will be met in full," the NBL said via statement last week."

How is this even possible under the governance of the NBL?

Once Bendant got involved they have always paid way above market value for players to win.
Kestleman trying to obtain $10mill. for a licence that isn't even worth $1 shows exactly what he is all about. The Money.

"Yes, the entire concept upon which the Wildcats and Breakers built their programs is clearly flawed"
You are an idiot Koberules if you belive that to be true.

I believe this to be the truth as very well stated above.
"you have a philanthropic billionaire as an owner who underwrites the costs. That in itself is not indeprendently sustainable and reliant on Jack's commitment, it could all change tomorrow." You have 10,000 lemming all paid up and no NBL.

Out of curiosity, does anyone here think a second NSW team is viable?

NSW are notoriously bad at supporting their sport clubs.

Sydney and Melbourne are two completely different kettle of fish when it comes to viability of clubs.

Ok so we all know that the Wollongong Entertainment Centre is the biggest piece of shit known in Australia and the fans don't want to go to it (sounds like Townsville doesn't it) but is there absolutely any chance whatsoever that LK can develop some land in the Illawarra and build an NBL standard stadium and some shops or hotels like he will be doing in Tasmania?

Could that have made a difference in Townsville?

Would NSW/federal government put their money into it?

Would the Hawkheads even show up with a modern stadium ?

Could LK do the NBA thing (Seattle lost its team because NBA didn't deem there to be enough income sources around Key Arena) within the NBL and build more NBL standard stadiums with other income sources for other teams or will Tasmania be a complete one off?

Yes, the entire concept upon which the Wildcats and Breakers built their programs is clearly flawed.