Canberra closer to NBL team as league finals head to capital

Canberra is one step closer to potentially hosting a National Basketball League (NBL) team for the first time in over two decades, as the league's parent company chief executive indicated strong confidence in the capital's prospects.

The NBL's in-season competition, the Ignite Cup, will see its finals move to Canberra's AIS Arena, a development fueling speculation about the league's expansion plans. The NBL is reportedly considering new clubs in Canberra, Darwin, the Gold Coast, and a second Sydney team, with a key requirement being the capacity to host at least 8,000 spectators.

“

We've got strong confidence that we can work together with Basketball ACT, with everyone involved in the sport to make sure that hopefully once the venue gets approved, that we can build a great team.

Hope for securing an NBL team is bolstered by the ACT government's announcement of a new Canberra Convention and Entertainment precinct. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr stated that a minimum of 7,500 seats are planned for the precinct, emphasizing its importance for attracting major sporting organizations and live music promoters who have found the current AIS Arena's 5,000-seat capacity too small.

“

A key element of the business case is having a basketball team play there, or more than one basketball team, actually. But it's not just a basketball stadium, it's got to accommodate other uses as well.

NBL Group CEO David Stevenson expressed optimism about working with Basketball ACT and other stakeholders to build a strong team, contingent on the venue's approval. He highlighted the importance of a robust business case, focusing on the economic contribution to the city. The AIS Arena, while a good venue, has limitations for major events.

Before any potential expansion, Canberra will host the midweek Ignite Cup, featuring 20 games on Wednesday nights. The finals will take place in Canberra on February 19, with the championship game on February 21, offering a share of $550,000. Additionally, the NBL's MVP Awards will be held in Canberra's Parliament House, marking the first time in over a decade they have moved from Melbourne.

“

The AIS Arena is a fantastic venue, but it sort of maxes out at about 5,000 people. It was very clear in talking both to live music promoters, to the major sporting organisations … that we were missing out because 5,000 was too small.