Aussie Basketball Discussion

[The X]

Can't believe they let them in without that $1 million guarantee. Basketball Australia sounds as good as the FFA. Different rules for different teams.

[koberulz]

http://anzballaz.com/former-blaze-employee-speaks-out/
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/201 ... blaze.html

All Blaze players are now free agents, with at least Worthington looking like he won't return to the NBL at all. Blaze need to get an investor to put in $10m by Monday, or they're out.

[Andrew]

Guess that means they're out, then.

[koberulz]

They apparently have a couple of people interested, but it's certainly not looking good.

Even if they do pull through, they're probably not going to be able to attract any decent talent.

[The X]

That's a shame. My wife & I usually go down to Gold Coast once a season to catch a game. Now there won't be any professional basketball in SE Qld again, not that we deserve it since it's not supported well enough by locals (although Blaze are pretty well supported, I'm talking more Brisbane).

[Andrew]

Hopefully the Bullets can make a comeback a little way down the road, when the money is there, the league is stable and the timing is right.

[The X]

Hopefully the Bullets can make a comeback a little way down the road, when the money is there, the league is stable and the timing is right.

A lot of big if's. Was talking to my wife about it last night (& other professional sports not being the big 3) & came to the conclusion that they're mostly screwed. It's going to be hard to keep the leagues afloat at the current rate.

[koberulz]

The NBL's arguably in the strongest position it's been in since the mid-90s. Two games on FTA, one live, all games to potentially be available in some sort of league pass type deal, attendance and TV viewership has been increasing steadily over the past two years (with TV viewership jumping several hundred percent with the move to FTA), and game three of this year's grand final series was one of the most-watched NBL games ever.

[koberulz]

No decision on the Blaze until tomorrow.

EDIT: Reports now are that the deal fell through, and the Blaze have until the 13th to secure a new investor.

[koberulz]

Blaze not dead yet.

[The X]

If they do stay, that's a shame. I like Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre for the Blaze. Nice car park, modern, good location, etc. Not sure about Carrara. I doubt atmosphere would be nowhere near as good. It's also capped at 3,000 attendance. I don't believe Blaze had a crowd as low as 3,000 all last season. Was usually just above that & got up to mid 4k's for marquee games or playoff push.

Sadly it's same for Bullets if they come back. I like them at Brisbane Convention Centre for same reasons. I hear rent for it was astronomical too. A shame really, since I'd like to see teams in both Brissy & GC.

[Andrew]

Better than losing them altogether. In any case that's certainly a generous offer, nice to see that kind of support for a pro basketball team.

[koberulz]

Sadly it's same for Bullets if they come back. I like them at Brisbane Convention Centre for same reasons. I hear rent for it was astronomical too. A shame really, since I'd like to see teams in both Brissy & GC.

That's one of the biggest issues with the Bullets, apparently. BCEC is too expensive, BEC is too far away and waaay too big, and everywhere else is too small/shit.

The Stankovic Cup is currently on Fox Sports:
Sunday – 3.00am Australia v China Game 4 Delayed Fox Sports 1
Sunday – 6.00pm Australia v Tunisia Game 5 Live Fox Sports 3
Monday – 4.00am Australia v Tunisia Game 5 Delayed Fox Sports 3

That said, the Boomers have sent a C team (Jason Cadee is the biggest name of the group, as far as I can tell), so it's probably not all that worth bothering with unless you're in basketball withdrawal.

On the subject of arenas:

[koberulz]

The Blaze are still short the 500k, deadline is tomorrow. The owners of the Blaze and CEO of Gold Coast Basketball are meeting with the NBL tomorrow, and attempting to move to the community model that saved Cairns and Wollongong from extinction. Leaving it a little late, though.

[Andrew]

For sure, doesn't sound good.

Meanwhile, Australia vs China will be shown on Fox Sports 1 next Wednesday, 11:30 AM and 5 PM AEST.

[koberulz]

That's just a replay of the Stankovic Cup Final, which I mentioned above.

[Andrew]

My mistake. Well, it's being replayed at those times for anyone who missed it.

[koberulz]

Still no word on the Blaze.

[koberulz]

Word on the street is they now have the full $500k, and BA will meet Monday to discuss their proposal.

[koberulz]

Now all that stands between the Blaze and the 12/13 NBL season is...the guarantee they weren't paying in the first place.

NBL should let them play without it for now, but give them until the end of the year to find the cash (assuming their business model for this season is solid). Gives them time to put some extra effort into getting a Brisbane team to replace them, as well as ensuring a full off-season to find homes for former Blaze players, etc. The Blaze going out at this stage, rather than immediately after next season, would be bad for the league.

[Andrew]

Agreed. If other teams have been allowed to proceed without a bank guarantee as the article notes, give them the same opportunity at least for the 2013 season.

[koberulz]

Blaze apparently survive, but this is coming from the same guy who called Bogut confirmed to the Wildcats an hour and a half before the Wildcats announced they weren't pursuing him, so it may well have no basis in fact whatsoever.

[koberulz]

NBL was happy to give them until July 31 to flesh out their proposal, but the Tomlinson's have decided to take their ball and go home.

Blaze are dead.

[Andrew]

It's their money so fair enough really, but that's a real shame. Just about the last thing that the league needs.

[The X]

Apparently the $500k was put up by a mystery fan. Sucks though. Even my wife, who is not a bball fan, was disappointed since we've gone to a couple of games the last year or so. Mighty shame since they provided good atmosphere.

With no Blaze or Bullets, I'm now like Andrew & without NBL again. Ahh well, such is life.