Pitch in for new outfit
THE Gold Coast’s major football teams could hold the key to the city scoring its own national baseball franchise.
The new-look format for the 2018-19 Australian Baseball League season was released this week, with Korean and New Zealand teams to join the existing six clubs and the competition to be separated into southwest and northeast conferences.
A major trend in the revamp is the move towards privatisation, with particular interest around the AFL’s Adelaide Crows securing the Adelaide Bite’s licence.
It’s a model that is becoming increasingly popular – the Crows’ AFL rivals Collingwood Magpies have a Super Netball team of their own.
With the Gold Coast still on the expansion radar for as soon as the 2019-20 season, Baseball Australia chief executive Cam Vale floated the concept as a possible avenue.
“We would see a great fit with either the Gold Coast Suns or the Titans or a summer sport,” Vale told the Bulletin.
“Also we know there are some really good grassroots venues on the Gold Coast but an ABL franchise that plays over a 10-week period in the summer could very well be suited to playing at the home of the Titans or the Suns if it makes sense in a partnership.
“We certainly don’t want Baseball Australia to be running these teams; the privatisation model has worked well.
“The other way forward would be for a sporting club like the Titans or Suns to partner up with a Major League Baseball team or with a major team out of Japan or Korea and work together to take over a licence.
“We’re a good fit as the Crows have shown to drive other outcomes that can help improve the broader business and sporting model for a bigger sporting entity than an ABL team.”
Baseball does have strong roots on the Coast – the city was home to championshipwinning teams in the 90s and Surfers Paradise are the reigning state league champions.
Baseball Australia’s headquarters are also based at Chevron Island. Vale added the Coast’s connections with Taiwan were another asset in its favour.
Titans chief executive Graham Annesley wouldn’t rule out following in the Crows’ footsteps but admitted it wasn’t a top priority for now.
“Our priority is to try to focus on getting the Titans where they need to be,” he said.
Suns CEO Mark Evans said they wouldn’t consider any ownership but would be happy to support from afar.