Serious Expansion Talks Ongoing

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger has confirmed “serious discussions” are taking place about NBL expansion.

Several cities are vying to be the next NBL team, including Darwin, Canberra and the Gold Coast, with the League able to move quickly if the business case is viable.

“There is nothing really that is fettering the NBL from being able to give a commitment in respect of a licence from a timing point of view,” Loeliger told Newscorp.

“We have sufficient discretion to issue one pretty much as soon as we’re convinced that everything stacks up and that it is the best option for the next licence.

“There are pretty serious discussions happening with a number of other cities.”

Loeliger added the Northern Territory Government and the NBL have been participating in “engaging and reciprocal dialogue” since September’s NBL Blitz in Darwin.

Expansion teams have enjoyed immediate success in recent years, with the Tasmania JackJumpers making the Grand Final in their inaugural campaign and the South East Melbourne Phoenix qualifying for the Semi-Finals in just their second season.

Read the full story here => NBL co-owner Larry Kestelman will inspect the Darwin Convention Centre as a potential home base for a league team