I thought the July to dec option would be worth a shot. Too risky i guess if it fails.

If it aint broken dont fix it but its kinda broken.... try something.

Disappointing result!!

Hmmm is all I can say.

I thought this whole restructure would be an exercise of re-arranging the deckchairs on the titanic.

I was wrong.

They're leaving the deckchairs right where they are.



I'm with you, Isaac......I hope they haven't spent too much on consultants.

I don't mind the current timeframe, but they have to start future seasons after the AFL concludes and not with a game in NZ.

I think the current timing is about right, so I'm glad they aren't making any radical changes.

I think you are right Isaac: it needs to be tweaked just a little, by ensuring that the season build-up is not overshadowed by the AFL grand final and then trade week. It would have been good to start a couple of weeks after we did - like maybe even this week.

It would also have thought it would be ideal for the playoffs to be played during the April school holidays, but for the moment with only 8 teams, there probably aren't really enough games to stretch that far.

Needed to shift it slightly if they wish to play over summer and have a mid season break for Xmas/New Year.
Lots go on Holiday over the break crowds are generally down.
Season
14/10 to 13 /12
11/1 to 28/2
Finals 1/3 to 14/3

If only 8 teams have a 3 rounds only 21 Games, but have a FA cup style nock-out but (H-A) within the season called the Asia Cup and have Asian teams nominate plus all NBL compete for cash prize.
Find Asian Sponsors to bring in New Money.

This is so funny man, I also find it hilarious that WNBL and rollers games are on free to air but somehow NBL can't even get 1 delayed game a week - maybe it's more complicated than simply stating their intentions or perhaps the croonies at foxtel want exclusive rights to NBL. I've emailed NITV and asked them to throw their hats into the ring, as maori TV does breakers games, they said "thanks for your comment".

If they start the NBL season two days before AFL grand final again next year, it'd be equally ridiculous. Looks like the eve of the NRL grand final is the go this time next year - which is almost as bad. I say start it the day after game 7 of NBA finals every year - free basketball publicity right there.

I feel anyone who thinks outside the box (unless you call cutting 8mins off games thinking outside of the box) works at NBL headquarters.

KC Gone, I think youll find the NBL has traditionally got it's best summer crowds over the holiday period. Glad there hasn’t been a change - most other time slots would exclude international players and reduce the NBL to a third tier league.

But I see Isaac’s point – for all the consultants what we have is BA overseeing the NBL, less spending on players, more community focus from clubs, the same name, same season etc etc.

This could have been done by a focus group in a university marketing tute.

kcgone, I'm right with you on a parallel comp along the lines of either the FA Cup or Champions League with Asian teams. I definitely think this type of comp is the right way to expand into the Asian market. Hopefully that can be the next step once NBL teams show some ongoing financial stability.

They would have spent $$$ on consultants to tell them that. McKinsey do not come cheap and so I am thinking somewhere at least $100K for a half decent and thorough report, but depends on the time and scope asked of them by NBL.

Would love to see the report and the assumptions made in it. What modelling they have done etc

To me, the key is free to air TV. If bums on seats is a measure of success, then would love to see the following comparision of crowd numbers:

"Golden era" Winter season + free TV:
Summer season + free TV:
Summer season + Foxtel:

Regarding the consultants and their penchant for the status quo, let's not be so harsh on BA.

What I've heard is that, in fact, before they got all the consulting done, BA engaged their consultants as to whether they (BA) should keep them (the consultants), and you'll never guess what their recommendation to BA was.

good on ba for not changing the dates,they dont need changing,just tweeking.
'summer basketball' has potentially,a good marketing ring to it.

if ba didnt get consultants to aid with decision making etc,you lot would be up in arms about dictatorships or some crap!!!

Good decision.

But next year please start the Weds after NRL Grand Final.

Big Opening night. Double header (hopefully on OneHD). Season preview at 6pm with all the essential info for new fans/bandwagons to get them interested. Then Melb game at 7pm, Perth game at 9pm.

That way when people are wondering what to do now that AFL/NRL is over for summer, they can get straight on the NBL without having missed anything.

So to summarise some previous threads (going back a long time) so you all understand all of your arguments...

a) most of you want to play lots of home games per season - few of you want less than 12, many want 14-15
b) most of you want the season to start after the AFL finishes but finish before the AFL restarts
c) most of you complain if your club has too many home games in a row because then its over exposed
d) most of you complain if your club has too many games on the road in a row because then you do not get to see them
e) some of you want all this interspersed with games against Asian teams

Which adds up to ..... the same number of games in a shorter period of time which means more home games in a row and less rest between games and more long road trips and a completely absolutely 100% F*%cked fixture particularly if Brisbane and/or Sydney come back in and even more grief if you need to take two weekends off for round robin type tournaments in Asia.

Agree with KC-Gone , needs to be started later. once AFL and Rugby Finished, ASIAN FA cup style comp runing through has some merrit, XMAS break would be good so I can plan holidays and not miss a game

like n2s, i like the wed after afl&nrl have finished.
wed 6pm to 8pm,the 'nbl preview show'- have a panel of experts (same as other sports do) doing interviews with players,coaches,mascots,new imports and their highlight reels etc.
maybe go live to a game after the show but i am not so sure,just yet, about the wed night live game as a tv spectacle.
i feel that the nbl should play more sunday arvo games, in particular blockbuster games like 2 melbourne teams,even rivals like a cairns v t/ville,adelaide v perth,brisbane v gold coast,sydney v anyone etc (obviously not this year)maybe the sunday arvo thing would be a better option with free to air tv also.

i like the 'summer basketball' thing,clubs and councils could move towards putting half courts near beaches etc and along with clubs/players promote sports and healthy living to the kids.

i am liking the 40 min games, execute or lose.
you can already see it in the results,with home teams winning most of the games so far, purely on intensity.
(playing harder defence and shooting better at home)

the emphasis on 'every' play(or lack of it) is what also lets us down on the international stage.

Skull, the clubs will tell you that Sunday afternoon is their worst performing day, on top of that the fact that in most venues they have to pay penalty rates for venue staff

HO- yeah,fair call.

what about the annual event thing,say for eg, the 2 melbourne teams playing on the australia day sunday arvo each year,trying to start a culture etc.

the event stuff is fine....the open air game always pulled a good crowd, even if it only went open air once.... the new years eve games are generally popular... but this stuff does not scratch the surface of the problems the NBL has with its fixturing.

HO- the nye game is a good one,ill be at the cairns one this year.

like any entertainment business,the nbl needs to work on building as many wins as it can into its calander.

each club needs to have input as to where they feel they can post a winner eg nth qld with its wet season and warm winters may have different ideas to southern clubs who have freezing winters and mild summers etc.
also taking into account regional rivalries etc

HO - whats your take on the fixture ??

It would have been to much of a hot potato to flirt with a different time frame. Had it failed it would have been the death of the nbl.
Now the product needs to talk 4 itself. Hopefully people tune into it & it grows. Free to air will then be a possibility.
Lets stay with sengstock. He's having a crack...

Skull, the NBL fixture is a disaster, brought around by circumstance far more than design. I've posted here many times on it ... you can read my facetious effort earlier here in this thread ... but.... in a nutshell.

a) no control over venues for most clubs
b) no interest from most venues as NBL clubs generate little ancillary revenue (compared to a concert)
c) we play too many home games for a 20 or 21 week home season
d) we cannot make the season shorter for the same reason
e) because of that we either conflict with the start or end of AFL season

and about 30 more..... All compunded by the addition of major metro teams, if Sydney or brisbane come back in then venue availability will almost certainly prescribe them being a financial disaster.

HO - once before i suggested that if/when sydney re enter the league it will need another arena built in the suburbs that has access to rail/bus routes and where there is growth/potential new fans.

i understand melbourne has plans for a huge complex in its suburbs where basketball is a growth sport.

lets face it,entertainment centers were built as inner city venues for major events,they require far too many staff/costs etc to make small events viable.

at some stage the nbl will have to back itself against, at least the start, of the afl season.

hopefully with good marketing and season momentum, one day it can. one day......hopefully......!!!

That's spot on anon. They don’t have to spend a fortune on a season launch, and it doesn’t matter what time of year it is. All they have to do for starters are the basics, so that anyone who walks into a basketball stadium in a basketball town knows exactly when the first/next game is on. That’s the relatively cheap starting point from which you bring ticket sales and awareness, from where revenue is generated to spend on other forms of promo.

No, it’s not the only solution, but it is an essential first step, not only to generate immediate ticket sales, but to get people who play basketball to start to associate with an NBL team.