NBL -- 16, 14, 12..... 8 teams, where to next? Expansion into Asia or back to regional areas?

[fumbler]

So a few seasons back we were promised to have double the eight sides in the next five years.
We were told Darwin was an option, Canberra was almost a given, Tasmania with it's combine North, South, East, West side was only moments away and Melbourne was so close to getting a second club that the Tigers up and changed their moniker to capitalise on it.

Where are they?

Why haven't we seen even one NEW side enter?

Where are you new sides?


If you had the capital and know how where and what would you do?

 

[FreoRicci]

Tbh short term promises in NBL are never a guarantee. The history of the league has been plagued with teams such as South Dragons, Brisbane Bullets, Townsville Crocs Canberra Cannons all coning and going within a few years. The aim right now is clearly to develop the league from a financial stand point and ensure stability before expanding the league again. It's great to see Sydney Kings get Andrew Gaze and slowly thriving again as well as Brisbane Bullets under a strengthened administration since re-entering.

This year seems that the great performance by the Boomers in the Olympics has brought renewed interest in the sport, particularly with the largest record crowd last week since 1979. Hope it continues and with proper management, 2-3 new teams will join within 3-5 years.

 

[DangerSloane]

Tbh short term promises in NBL are never a guarantee. The history of the league has been plagued with teams such as South Dragons, Brisbane Bullets, Townsville Crocs Canberra Cannons all coning and going within a few years. The aim right now is clearly to develop the league from a financial stand point and ensure stability before expanding the league again. It's great to see Sydney Kings get Andrew Gaze and slowly thriving again as well as Brisbane Bullets under a strengthened administration since re-entering.

This year seems that the great performance by the Boomers in the Olympics has brought renewed interest in the sport, particularly with the largest record crowd last week since 1979. Hope it continues and with proper management, 2-3 new teams will join within 3-5 years.

You can keep going too...

Gold Coast Blaze, Hobart Tassie Devils, North Melb Giants, SE Melbourne Magic, Canberra cannons, Woolongong hawks, hunter pirates etc

 

[fumbler]

You can keep going too...

Gold Coast Blaze, Hobart Tassie Devils, North Melb Giants, SE Melbourne Magic, Canberra cannons, Woolongong hawks, hunter pirates etc

Hobart was around for 14 years, the Giants were around for 26 years (if you count Victoria Giants) and should have stayed on, Canberra was a stalwart of the league for 24 seasons but in the end couldn't compete in such a saturated area.
Wollongong is Illawarra, besides the Bullets (who left for 9 seasons) the hawks are the only original team in the NBL.

The one that got away for me is the West Sydney Razorbacks, if only the Bulldogs had not tried to cheat the NRL and the new owner hadn't have changed their identity to try and cash in on the Kings failure.

 

[fumbler]

I'd like to see the current competing clubs plus:

• Either bring back the Falcons or Hobart Devils/Chargers
• Bring back the Tigers
• West Sydney
• Country Vic - Geelong Supercats, Goldfields United/Combined - Miners/Braves, Golburn Valley etc.
• Canberra Cannons or Albury Wodonga Bandits
• Darwin

Totals 14 clubs.

 

[my name was taken]

Trouble is those clubs won't be feasible, especially with all these imports running about.

 

[fumbler]

Trouble is those clubs won't be feasible, especially with all these imports running about.

Have you seen the quality of the SEABL?
Surely the NBL can step it up.