Franchise partners sought to run Otago NBL team
THE first step has been made in getting national league basketball back to Dunedin.
Basketball Otago will today ask for expressions of interest from franchise partners to run an NBL team based in Dunedin.
The Otago Nuggets were forced to withdraw after the 2014 season when BBO ran into financial difficulties.
If the team is to return, it would adopt a new ownership model. Basketball Otago will no longer be able to be the owner, under league regulations.
That minimises the risk to the local association if financial difficulties arise and is the model every team now follows.
However, it requires the franchises work in conjunction with the associations to help develop and grow the game.
A comprehensive application for a minimum of three years would be submitted to the NZNBL board if a successful franchise plan emerged.
BBO board chairman Karl Andrews said the main reason behind the move was to reestablish a local pathway for men to play at a higher level.
‘‘At the moment, we’re seeing our talent follow a pathway to college mainly — that seems to be the first option for good players.
‘‘But I guess when they come back from colleges, [we want] to have something for them to come back to in Dunedin, so they can come home and continue their basketball careers.’’
Four key areas were identified in which the franchise partner’s plan had to be realistic and achievable.
Those were financial sustainability, contributing to regional player and coach development, promoting the values of BBO and the growth of the game, and providing foresight of a three to fiveyear plan.
Sustainability is something Andrews stresses is key, as does interim NBL chairman Iain Potter, who supports the move on that condition.
He said Otago had a good history of participation in the sport and had done a great job of growing basketball after its difficulties.
However, it needed to be sustainable from financial and player perspectives, as well as in the value it added to the local basketball community.
Andrews did not give a figure he would like to obtain financially, but a BBO draft budget supplied for the 2014 DCC annual plan projected a cost of $331,675 to run the Nuggets that year.
BBO was not putting a timeframe on the move, although Potter said 2019 was a realistic target.
‘‘If they continue to make the good progress that they have, and they’ve done a really good job, then they would look to apply by April next year for inclusion in 2019.
‘‘I think that timeframe achievable.
‘‘So that gives them another year, or a little less than a year, to line up some of their ducks.
‘‘Then [it is] another nine months after that before they would play.
‘‘But it shouldn’t be a rush, it should be done at a pace that is measured and ensures the greatest likelihood of success.’’
Andrews said it was too early to determine the specifics of how the franchise would run
is and the extent of BBO’s involvement.
However, he did believe there would be benefits at a community level either way.
‘‘What we do see is a lot of crossover between the benefits of the franchise being back in the league and the development and promotion of basketball.
‘‘So we do all see a tiein with what Basketball Otago is doing at the grassroots level.
‘‘But at the same time making sure we’re finding the balance between making sure we’ve got the right people doing the right things and the management of it isn’t taking away from the daytoday things of what we’re trying to do as Basketball Otago.’’