- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Basketball Australia boss Larry Sengstock says the finances of the seven confirmed entrants in the new NBL stack up and he doesn’t expect any of the clubs to fall over.
Sengstock also says there will be no watering down of the $1 million bank guarantee all clubs are required to provide before the planned new elite men’s competition kicks off later this year.
“They’ve all put in their financial details and we’re comfortable that’s the case,” Sengstock said when asked if all seven teams were all financially viable.
Three of the seven – Cairns, Wollongong and Adelaide – faced significant financial troubles during last season’s NBL.
But Cairns and Wollongong have confirmed new ownership structures, while Adelaide are in the process of changing owners.
Sengstock said the contentious bank guarantee, to stop situations like the financial meltdowns of the Sydney Kings and Brisbane Bullets, would remain in place.
“That has been discussed and there is no watering down of that at this point in time,” he said.
“We want to make sure our teams are financially viable and long-term sustainable – that’s the key.”
Sengstock said he would talk to pay-TV broadcaster Fox Sports later this week about the new competition and whether they would be interested in televising it, despite the lack of confirmed teams in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
“They’re a national broadcaster and they want to be in the major markets,” Sengstock said.
“I’d think we’re still going to get their support – it’s just a matter of what level.”
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.