Over the course of the 2010-11 NBL season, the league has been constantly improving. The sport has gained more interest from around Australia and New Zealand.
The aim of the league should be to improve drastically over the coming years and to have a league that is one of the best in the world.
The increased national exposure that comes with free-to-air-television broadcasting has had much to do with the revitalisation this season. With the current TV deal with Ten and OneHD extending to five games a week in 2015, now is as good a time as ever to aggressively push the league forward.
In recent months, the NBL have revealed plans for expansion in the coming years, with defunct teams from Brisbane and Newcastle highest on the list for reinstatement.
In a league that is rising drastically from the disastrous lows of the last few years, expansion is a great idea.
The league has set its sights on the re-instatement of the Brisbane Bullets franchise, hoping to get it running for next season (2012-13 looking more likely). Representatives from Newcastle are also pushing to have the Falcons brought back for the 2012-13 season.
Along with this, there is speculation the South Dragons could return in the next few years.
The league should also look to expand further into New Zealand market, with Wellington looking like a perfect landing spot. The league should hope to bring back the Canberra market and also push into Tasmania.
Reinstatement of the Singapore Slingers and expansion into Asia is, however, not a good idea.
This form of expansion would mean too much travelling time for teams and would lead to many issues. The league should be kept as an exclusively an Australian and New Zealand enterprise.
Another positive step forward would be to increase the international player limit (currently at two) and also raise the salary cap (currently at $1 million). With the new TV rights deal and increased attendance, the franchises are earning more money and should be spending it to improve talent.
An increased salary cap and more international spots would make the league more attractive for players from all over the world.
Whilst doing this, the league should push teams to more aggressively hunt talent from the NBA D-League, NCAA and international leagues. There is no doubt that as the talent pool widens, that fans will be more willing to come to games and support the clubs.
The NBL should look to play exhibition games in Asia and perhaps Europe.
Also, bringing in NBA teams to play exhibition games in Australia will lead to greater national interest in basketball and increased ticket sales for NBL teams. Although NBA pre-season games would be the top prize, the league would benefit by showcasing great teams from Europe and Asia in the Australian market.
You can’t tell me that having Allen Iverson and his Turkish team (coincidently containing Aussie big man AJ Ogilvy) or Stephan Marbury and his Chinese team play in Australia wouldn’t be a great idea.
The league, as well as individual teams, must step up marketing around the country and bring more people to the venues. They should hope to market the individual games and more importantly the brand of the club and the league.
Eventually it will come a point where buildings are being sold out and the teams are reaching their income maximums. When the league reaches this point, teams must be ready to expand their market by moving to larger venues.
In the case of the Melbourne Tigers, who reside in a city with over 4 million people, it is absolutely astounding that they play in a stadium that can sit less than 4,000.
By taking a leap of faith and moving to larger venues, I think fans will respond to the improved professionalism and spectacle, and this will result in greater ticket sales.
If the NBL stay the course and continue improving, there is no doubt in my mind that we will have an ever-improving league and one that can mix it with the best of Asia and Europe.
Ash
Guest
they need 16-18 or more teams the current 9 Brisbane Canberra Newcastle Melbourne 2 Sydney 2 Geelong (not sure) Bendigo (not sure ) Darwin (not sure) Hobart ( not sure) and bigger venues NO asia teams we need better AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS we get sick of international players weve never heard of , they need an nbl juniors program to improve australian basketball so that all our young guns come straight up to the nbl not straight off to the US ...
David Nguyen
Guest
I agree with teams from Brisbane, Newcastle, Canberra, and Hobart is a must. Absoulute no brainer really that a market like Hobart with no professional sporting teams except the cricket, doesnt have a team! Bring back the Hobart Devils! Could be a success story like Townsville. Second teams from Melbourne and NZ should be high on the agenda, but maybe not the dragons. Either bring back the Magic or the Giants who had a larger supporter base. Second team in Sydney just wont work as we have previously seen. Like Melbourne, Sydney is a massive market for sports but unlike Melbourne, Sydney lacks the passion that Melbournians have for all sports.
Min
Guest
Bring Back Geelong !! The local supercats have a great fanbase playing in the SEABL with at a guess 1500 seats selling out quite often. If this was to be an NBL team and get the nod for a larger Stadium would be a huge success. Basketball is very popular in Geelong and there are plans for a new basketball venue to be built as the Arena is non stop hosting games for all ages on its 4 courts along with local basketball stadiums. Build a new stadium for all ages and a new Home for the supercats in the same venue and off we go !!!
Jason
Guest
I just dont see the NBL getting back to the glory days it once had. The summer sporting landscape has changed a lot since then. The NBL left the winter season because of the AFL/NRL dominance but now it has to compete with the A-league, Big Bash League. On a positive note there are so many basketball fans in Australia that will wear Celtics, Lakers, Magic, Bulls jerseys and watch the NBA but the NBL is failing to connect with these fans, similar to the Euro fans in the A-league. If the NBL could connect with these fans it would sel out every game every week. Personally i feel the problem is that the NBL is to different to the NBA in terms of rules etc and the jerseys. If i was tasked with running the NBL i would be trying to American-ize the NBL as much as possible. And luring NBA teams here for preseason or friendlies etc would be a HUGE boost to the game in Australia.
Johnno
Guest
A big factor of baksetball changing in Australia as opposed to the 1980's and 1990's is china and the gowth of european leagues. China largest population in the world love basketball now, and same in turkey. Turkey cam 2nd at 2010 world basketball championships, it was held in turkey and they have a few NBA players now. So it is a numbers game. More pay ty subsribers in China than australia, and turkey has bigger populatin than OZ. Plus euro Euro basketball championships are huge bargaining power that oz can't compete with(Greece,Italy, spain russia, france, croatia), what the oceania championships with only 2 viable countries. Sorry Singapore slingers lol, or a team form say Fiji, that would be like watching th e soccerroos play American samoa and we no sort of what the score was, wasn't it like 31-0 lol, and this is soccer were talking about. ANd aussies left the Oceaniac football confederation to so that says a thing or 2 about standards in majority of oceanic sports except rugby, and Rleague. So yes the NBL can dream on if it thinks it will get imports of the quality of imports form the previous generations 1980's and 1990's. Dwayne Mclain, ken mclarey, scott Fisher, bruce bolden , chris jent, stev carfino Ricky grace, Robert Rose, doug overton, leon trimingham, AL Green, Wayne Mcdaniel, leroy loggins Butch Hays, Darrel mcdonald, Acie earl, rimas kurtanitis, Ricky jones, andre moore, james crawford, melvin thomas, mark davis, willie simmons lol, love those goggles , and probably many more names i have left out lol, you can see i watched alot of Nbl when it was big in the halycon days. I am 30 (born 1980) 31 this year so i grew up when the knings were the hottest ticket in sydney. Go Damien keogh and tim Morrisey and the D-train. NBL had so many loveable characters and personalities from all around the USA, Australia to (Gaze smyth, vlahov, bradke, heal, Tim morrisey) and a few form other countries to. And also NBl iused to olay to packed houses in melbounres tennis centre Andrew gaze's tiger V's the South eastmeblourne Majic coached by Brian Goorgian And talk of how Allen Iverson might come out here, a former Nba Mvp playing in todays Nbl, extremlly rare X 1000, maybe we should ask Dennis rodman or scottie pippen to come out, or MJ i hear he is contemplating a comeback been training with his team the charlotte bob cats and siad in his NBA hall of hame speech about a comeback i never say never and he apparently is a bit slower speed wise but his Airness still has all the air jordan moves and can still fly in the Air. But in all seriousness the NBl was once many said the 2nd best league in the world in th e1990's and alot fo those imports i mentioned were star college players and had NBA experince and some even went back to the NBA eg (doug overton went back to washingotn bullets now called wizards) after there stints in Australia so that should give a non basketball fan an indication of the quality of the NBL porduct in 1990's 1990-2000 end of Sydney 2000 olympics. Man does sydney 2000 feel lifetime ago, and thrpey was only 18 and will be 30 by london 2012.
jamesb
Guest
Whiteline, it would be a combination of pay tv, fta tv, internet and global tv rights. However what I like to see is get a rich benefactor to come in and buy an nbl club and the entertainment centre (if possible) where the club is playing. Then over a period of time 5, 10, or 15 years, the rich benefactor hands over ownership of the entertainment centre and club to the NBL club. The NBL club would have a slice of the pie whatever entertainment events occur at the venue, like concerts etc. Is it possible?
NY
Guest
Come on Whiteline. That's a bit harsh. Many sports rely on rich benefactors and organisations. The NBL has been paying its way for many years now.
Whiteline
Guest
Who is going to pay for it? The Wildcats lost money last year and they won!!! If there isn't a rich benefactor in the building it is doomed.
sambaker
Roar Rookie
NBL needs to grow slowly and sustainably. It can't try to compete with the big boys like NRL and AFL, because it never will. I think the current administration have got that idea. I would like to see these teams come in over the next 15-20 years: Brisbane Canberra Newcastle Hobart Melbourne 2 (once Tigers are settled) Sydney 2 (once Kings are settled) NZ 2 (in Christchurch or Wellington)
Connor Kret
Roar Rookie
I agree with that though a Geelong teams seams unlikely. Hopefully though these teams would come in gradually. Diluting the talent base too quickly would be damaging.
jamesb
Guest
I'd like the NBL to one day have a 16 team comp. It would be like Cairns Taipans Townsville Crocodiles Gold Coast Blaze Sydney Kings Wollongong Hawks Melbourne Tigers Adelaide 36ers Perth Wildcats Auckland Breakers (name change from NZ) While these are the other teams to come in Brisbane Bullets Newcastle Falcons Hobart Devils Canberra Cannons South Dragons Geelong or West Sydney Wellington or Christchurch
Mark
Guest
I love the NBL, and it's good to see the Sydney Kings are getting crowds of over 5,000 people to games.
Kasey
Guest
deleted due to double post:(
Kasey
Guest
I went out last night for my 2nd 36ers game, except for the fact they lost to a last minute 3pt bomb, it was a pretty enjoyable night out...can't see why more fans don't go...$30 for sideline seats about 10 rows back = not too expensive in my books. Never gets rained out. the culture of playing gee-up music all the time will take a bit to get used to for this football fan (WE sing at the football, NOT Lady GaGa!) Will probably go back next season and will try to catch the remaining games of Adelaide's season on ONEHD.
EvertonAndAustralia
Roar Pro
I'll only start watching Basketball again when the Brisbane Bullets come back
Hector
Guest
The NBL is pretty much gone if the One HD is scrapped. The only place for it to go then would be webcasting, at it's own cost. To improve the league to 'one of the best'. A bit pie in the sky don't you think? That would mean millions of dollars for players they do not have. I think the only way it can survive is to be more semi pro. They need to avoid the mistakes of past which is pretty much everything you suggested. They need stable playing lists for absolute starters.