Wollongong will struggle to finance a team and a Kings franchise will return at some point. The Kings might not have had blockbuster crowds in recent seasons, but they're weren't abysmal either.

Using the word "deserve" is the wrong way to think about it.

Fair point Isaac.

Hyphothetically say the Spirit went out for the rest of this season played well, promoted heavily, went out to schools every week and got some press on the tv in the first few articles and they didnt draw crowds is it then that we say they dont deserve a team as Sydney will not support a team.

If they can afford a team and make a good case, then they'll get a team. If they can't and don't, they won't. I know what I'd bet on!

I think this is all going to come down to costing to run a franchise. Those who can afford it will, those who cannot will not.
Interesting to see the costing when things get closer to the start/end.

The Spirit are set to lose $1 million this season alone - provided they even make it to the end of the season. Despite all this talk about hiring a media manager and getting involved with a marketing company the strong rumour is that the ownership is set to pull the plug sooner rather than later - a distinct possibility given that debacle at the Entertainment Centre which alone cost them $40000, and right from the start of this mess the owner has shown little inclination to support the sport with the passion it deserves. Just to add further misery to this sad tale - most of the (less than 1000) tickets for that depressing Friday were given away as well.

Changing the name (absolute stupidity), ridiculously poor management (if you thought the Kings were bad in this regard, these guys are 100 times worse), no marketing or promotion (it's like these guys don't even exist) - the league would honestly have been better off this season without a Sydney team at all. Right now everything written or broadcast about this team is pure negativity (and rightly so) - and it's hurting the sport tremendously.

Rightly or wrongly, the perception in Sydney (where most of the major corporates and the advertising dollars resides) is that basketball is dead as a sport, and all the Spirit are doing is turning that perception into reality. That hurts the game on a national level.

The only way this thing gets turned around is that a cashed-up owner who loves the game unconditionally, has the absolute passion and drive to want to see it succeed and is prepared to lose money for the next 5 years with the hope that the game will thrive once again, will be the force behind a new Sydney franchise. Whether that's the Kings or something completely new, it doesn't matter - albeit the Kings name still carries some weight in Sydney, witness the 10244 who turned up for the deciding Grand Final game last year despite ZERO promotion by either the league or the Kings.

That 10K indicates the support is still there, just lying dormant - but unless someone comes aboard with money, passion, and drive, top level basketball in Sydney just isn't going to work.

One of the other interesting thoughts would be, if they are to keep a team in Sydney and let's say it is the current team, do they then go back to the 'Kings' name as it holds more merit in the state? How many of the current players would want to play under that name considering the all but one have a very strong hatred towards the old name and colours!

Frankly, I'm more concerned that next season, some effort will actually be put in to promoting the league...because I hear these rumours that advertising and sponsorship help boost crowd numbers.

$300k as per the DSEG review is hardly gonna go far.
Agreeing to take money from a new team only to make them work it all out on their own is just wrong and negligent on the League's part.
Having said that, the owner/s should have got a firmer committment from the League that they would get some kind of support behind the scenes at League level, rather than leaving it all to chance, knowing what they've been like with other teams in the past.
Both sides were so keen to rush this thing and put the team out there that crucial issues were overlooked.
The continued blase attitude from the NBL which only kicks in gear when things are really screwed, really needs to change.

the hawks will be dead and there will be one team soley from NSW

It's not a case of whether Sydney deserves a team. It is Australia's largest market and there shjould a be a team there. However it needs to be marketed through sustained action - not just a bit here and there. the same could be said for just about every other basketball team. Sydney also needs to decide are they playing home games at the SEC or at Homebush - and stick with one.