Living in the Northern Territory has plenty of advantages – stunning sunrises and sunsets, Uluru, the gateway to the past and a beautiful culture. There is just one thing missing: a national sports team.
Every other capital city around Australia, including Canberra in our other territory, has at least one senior professional sporting team – but the top end never has.
So, the logical question that has to be asked is why not? Why shouldn’t the Northern Territory and Darwin, in particular, have a top-level professional sporting team?
The Territory is an untapped resource for sport and there are great rewards to be had for whoever can turn that proverbial tap on. A few weeks ago, I asked the question of whether rugby league’s Queensland Cup should expand into the Northern Territory and a positive response was unanimous.
So why not go one step further and get a national sports team up here? This is 2017 so the excuse that Darwin is too far away does not wash anymore.
Perth is, in fact, further away from the eastern seaboard by plane than Darwin and the Western Australian capital now has four teams in three competitions – The West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers in the AFL, the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League and Perth Glory in the A-League.
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Granted, Perth has a bigger population than Darwin but that argument doesn’t have a leg to stand on either given the North Queensland Cowboys have been in Townsville for over two decades. Their population was only 80,000 when they were admitted to the NRL 1995 and since then, they have also had NBL and A-League teams.
Even though both have folded, they were still there.
Speaking of which, the NBL along with the Big Bash would probably be the best options for a national team in Darwin. Basketball is quite big in the capital and being an indoor sport, the wet season would not affect any games.
Cricket would also make a strong push into Darwin as it has the facilities and public interest.
With the population almost at 150,000 people and with plenty of people with cash to spare who don’t like boating, camping or fishing, this is really a gold mine waiting to be found.
Tell me Roarers, what do you think of Darwin getting a national sports team?
Bigj
Guest
As I said in the article, The Territory is an untapped resoruce of potential and wealth its just who is going to turn the tap on first.
Bigj
Guest
I know the Territory has minerals the Kimberley is full of it. I agree with what your saying and the Federal Government needs to take a leaf for the US book and state hood the Territory and not allow any sale to the Asians.
bearfax
Guest
And you think the Northern Territory doesn't have mineral wealth? It has some of the most substantive mineral wealth in the country, some of their mines among the largest in the World, mining magnesium, bauxite, lead, zinc, silver, gold and of course uranium. Add to that the strategic location of Darwin Harbour which is more and more used by the US and our navy as well as now being partly on a 99 year lease to the Chinese. Its population may not be substantial, but we had better start developing the place lest someone like the politician who sold the harbour lease to the Chinese, may end up selling the area piecemeal or as a whole. You think India, China and Indonesia don't look at the place with avarice eyes. Our self serving politicians are too dumb or too much in the pocket to realise the danger. Alaska was made a state partly because the US feared Russia may want to take it back.
bigj
Guest
Sheek, Why do you think i suggested Basketball, not effected by weather regardless of what time of year. You are correct that Townsville and Carins have each other and other surrounding populations with in 300-400 kms to the north, south and west. Darwin does have Katherine just down the road so that does help but after that nothing until Alice. But that should not stop the NT form being considered for a national team.
Bigj
Guest
I think the materials boom had alot to do with that
bearfax
Guest
Alaska became a state of the USA in 1959 with less of a population (225,000) than the Northern Territory has now. Didnt seem to upset the Yanks or Alaskans. In fact Alaska thrived after gaining statehood and now has near 800,000 souls.
sheek
Roar Guru
From the ABS figures of 2016, Darwin has a population tracking close to 144,000. The largest city across all of Northern Australia is Townsville with just over 182,000. Cairns follows with nearly 150,000. Townsville & Cairns are also supported by numerous satellite towns within their orbit, not least with each other, about 4-5 hours up, or down, the highway. Even Hobart with nearly 223,000 residents & a state population of nearly 520,000 is not yet considered a serious national sports player outside of cricket. NT has a population of 244,000 by comparison. I reckon NT is a long way from being granted national status in many sports. Not enough critical mass of population, quality players & revenue streams for a number of sports. The weather is also a problem, especially during the monsoon period which coincides with the southern summer.
sheek
Roar Guru
If I remember correctly, around the time of the Republican referendum in 1998, NTers was asked if they wanted statehood & they said "no". They were also canvassed their thoughts for a new state name. Interestingly, a majority of Territorians opted for the name Northern Territory to remain even if it became a state! I would also like another state in North-West Australia (Kimberly-Pilbara regions) but I doubt the WA govt would like the idea. I would suggest New Holland as a possible state name in honour of the name that the entire content was briefly known as back around the mid 1600s to early 1800s. But I also appreciate the indigenous population would opt for an indigenous name.
Basil
Guest
Not many live in Sydney, they just like to think they do. Clingers has on that live an hour and a half out of the city rarely attending games because it's just too hard but make a habit of looking down at others from other parts of Australia. Enjoy your commute to work tomorrow...
Bigj
Guest
I think that people in Sydney forget that there is another world outside of it, its called Australia
Rellum
Roar Guru
I could say the same thing about Sydney but people insist on putting and keeping football teams there.
jeff dustby
Guest
but it has lines drawn around it and a few building so big j thinks it should have national teams.
Bigj
Guest
its thinking like that is why things never get done.
gibbo
Guest
We are talking about 1% of the national population and economy Come back when sporting competitions have 100 competitors
Bigj
Guest
Crows AFLW does not really count as the are based in Adeliade, so maybe they could get a Darwin base team next season considering half the team is from up here
Ken Spacey
Guest
NT teams are included in FFA Cup and the Crows AFLW is meant to also represent the NT.
BigJ
Roar Guru
NBL is the way to go and then the Intrust Super Cup, BBL would be great. Hopefully I can get the Deputy Chief Minister up here to have a look at the possibity of teams in those sports.
Rellum
Roar Guru
There should be a Shield team and One day team based in Darwin, Canberra as well, real teams for players to exposure in instead of the Micky mouse CAXI. Crowds seem not to be important, even the boss of NSW cricket doesn't seem to care about the Shield so that should not be a problem. You can have a spinners wicket set up. You would probably try and avoid late finishes or certain times of year, but the BBL takes care of that anyway. The NBL could certainly be there as should the QRL. If there is every an A2-League then Darwin could make the grade for that as well. There is no need to see it as some back water that no team should ever be in.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Soocer at night could possibly work as it does really rain early evening, during the wet season its run around 3 for a 45minute shower ansd then is clear again by five.
BigJ
Roar Guru
I think it is the best option due tot he weather restrictions, and basketball is rather big up here.