NBL APPROACHES QBL FOR CHANGE
NBL1 name on the cards
BASKETBALL: The recent revitalisation of Australia’s premier basketball competition, the NBL, could spark changes at a state-wide level.
QBL club delegates attended a meeting at the weekend with league officials, to discuss the possibility of the re-branding.
Ultimately the NBL wants all competitions, such as Queensland’s QBL and the Waratah League of New South Wales, to fall under the NBL1 banner.
Victoria’s SEABL was the first competition to undergo the change this season, switching to the moniker of NBL1.
Under the proposal if all leagues were to come on board, the QBL would be re-branded as NBL1 North, with NSW to be known as NBL1 East, Victoria to switch to NBL1 South, South Australia as NBL1 Central, Western Australia as NBL1 West and New Zealand as NBL1 NZ.
Toowoomba Mountaineers director of operations John Gouldson acted as the club’s delegate, and said franchises from across the state had been briefed on the ins and outs of what the potential changes could mean.
“The league wanted to get feedback from club delegates,” Gouldson said.
“Victoria had the name for one season after being known as the SEABL, and the interesting thing there is that all the clubs in it were keen to front up for a second year.
“The long-term goal is for all state leagues to fall under the NBL 1 banner.
“One thing that stood out to me with the NBL1 approach was the option of a three-year implementation phase. The choice is to be made by Basketball Queensland, but some clubs wanted to start immediately while others wanted to wait for another year.
“We expect them to make a decision by the end of October.”
Gouldson said the success of the inaugural NBL1 this year in terms of live streaming all games and increased exposure was a key selling point.
“The reason that the invitation has been given to the states is to pick up a unified promotional exercise through the live streaming and media, and to take advantage of the name and the growing profile of the NBL,” he said.
“There’s always the issue of sorting things out like costs, and how to blend in local advertising with the likes of (NBL major sponsors) Chemist Warehouse and Hungry Jacks.
“The good part about that is it is a work in progress.”