I wonder how long it will take before we see Canberra and Wellington.

who's Tassie first player signing?

Haha. Gotta love the fans. How about they actually get the deal done first.
There is a secret deal trust me. It will never be disclosed to the public, that's why it's a secret deal.

Rumour been around for a while but I believe it's true. Where this leaves the huskies who knows, does LK bring his own people in or deal with Hickey. Bartlett could be LK man.

Great news which ever way you look at it. I don't like to get to excited but LK has put basketball on the map Australia wide.

Bartlett. Never.

"Rest assured the Huskies will be pissed and I would imagine that they may walk from all Huskies teams."

I don't know all the details but why would the Huskies get pissed? The article says:

"Last year, the Southern Huskies basketball consortium led by tech entrepreneur Justin Hickey and business partner Mike Sutton expressed interest in joining the league, and made an unsolicited bid to buy the sport and entertainment precinct.

But a falling out over the valuation of the centre with the council saw the Huskies withdraw their interest in purchasing the stadium."

Sounds like they couldn't reach an agreement?

for all the chargers and huskies tried to do to enter the NBL, it will end up being a new, different entity

Ahhh Dazz. Just stop commentingon you know nothing about.

This: "The Mercury understands National Basketball League owner Larry Kestelman, one of Australia's richest people, wants to buy the DEC. The centre and Wilkinsons Point was approved for sale by the Glenorchy City Council as a complete site, in a bid to attract a project of "real significance" to the Northern suburbs."
The Huskies put in a bid for the DEC (only). If you had been to the DEC it is an old facility, not a dump. They still bring Elton John there!
The LK interest in the WHOLE precinct of Wilkinson's Point PLUS the DEC.


Idiot.

Who will coach the new franchise, lots of unanswered questions here. Bartlett and now Hickey have done a lot leg work to get basketball popular again, not certain how Tasmanian supporters going to react to outsiders coming in.

Bartlett will now be all over Kestkeman. He destroyed the Chargers. Let's hope Larry is as smart as he is meant to be.
Bartlett was dumped by the Huskies and is fast running out of options.

Bartlett destroyed the chargers lol. They won the the last seabl competition.

Exactly, it's big business, it’s now a contest and unless Hickey has the capital he could end up losing what was his initial concept.
Bartlett has government contacts so imo will probably front the LK dealing. As i said, it’s an opinion as I really don’t know.

Hickey was going to spend $10mill on the DEC upgrade and the rest was new ventures on the land that the DEC occupies. I really wish that people understood what is going on here rather than the Chinese whispers they hear and are therefore true.
BTas will be shitting themselves now.

With the Mt Gambier Pioneers looking fairly likely to be accepted into the NZNBL, they are now well on track to achieve their plan to become the eleventh NBL franchise.

"Tell them he's dreaming"

Proud. That will never happen.
Kestleman will have access to the $10mill the Gov has promised to develop a purpose built basketball stadium. It was always intended to be built in the DEC area. Win for everyone. Plus there will be extra money available to improve the DEC. It won't be Kestleman's money.
They (LK) do need to pay full market value for the whole precinct and that needs to be publicly communicated. If not this is the last roll of the dice.

For the ill informed here like Dazz.

"In February last year the Liberals pledged $10 million to design, plan and construct a multisports indoor centre in Glenorchy, which would be used for sports including basketball, netball, gymnastics, volleyball, futsal and martial arts. It is unsure whether Mr Kestelman would seek this funding as part of his development vision at Wilkinsons Point, but the NBL boss said on a Melbourne sports radio program in February that markets like Tasmania "definitely need their biggest business involvement, which is government"."

Some would say he has no cash Paul.

The reality is Reality the GCC were given this facility by the state Government for $1.
Anything they get will be a bonus and save the GCC from losing $1mill+ per year.
No one is being blinded other than the people who pretend to know what is happening and know nothing.

Why should a private entity get the benefit of the cheap property? The council made the investment, took the risk. Why shouldn't they be the ones to benefit and use the sale of the property to fund other areas of their own community?

"But it was only $1!!!!"

If it was such a great deal that couldn't miss, why didn't you buy it???

Private companies have been getting government land for free and developing for decades, why shouldn't the basketball get the same advantage. Crown casino got probably the most expensive piece of land in Australia to develop for nothing, not even a tender process.

This notion of councils or private developers getting something for 'free' is flawed.

Yes, the GCC got the Dec and surrounds for $1 but they also took on the asset/business which costs them $1m a year to run.

They voted unanimously to sell it off, and their only taker was the Huskies group which pulled out as they couldn't agree on what it was worth.

To make the site as a whole more tempting to purchasers, they included the Wilkinsons Point area for development.

It would seem now that LK is the only interested party in purchasing the lot.

The council itself just does not have the capacity to develop the land/site into anything of real worth. The private sector can, and LK through this upcoming negotation process will no doubt cough up millions to secure the site.

Of course this is a property deal with an NBL team attached. But make no mistake, a deal will include checkpoints that LKs group has to meet (amount of dollars invested by a certain time etc etc) while ensuring appropriate community needs are met. Part of LKs desire is of course to base a team in tassie, and through this method he can be directly invested and involved in its fortunes.

I dont see how letting the site sit there under council management doing nothing is good for anyone. LK is proven, is quality, and gets things done.

This is huge news for Tassie and Tasmanian ball. I lived in the area for 30 years before moving interstate and this has me pondering my options!

It looks like LK has the money and the Hickey group doesn't, or the Hickey group thought they could get it for near nothing and LK saw the potential and will pay what its worth.
Where to now for the Huskies, do they continue to play nznbl if they miss the nbl licence? Lots questions.

They disband after this season and morph in to whatever LK wants. Wouldn't be the first team to be owned by the NBL.

It's a shame that the Hickey group were excluded from the process underway now. It will also be a deal done behind closed doors with no sale price publicly revealed apparently.
Monday is the closed council meeting rubber stamp the deal allegedly.

LK might not have liked Hickey business style, perhaps the money isn't what appeared. Wonder where Stewart is in all this? What about the huskies in nbl1 ? Can’t see Hickey hanging around if he doesn’t get the nbl licence.

Maybe LK stole the Huskies idea!
Why have a middle man when you can do it yourself. Unfortunately LK has no relationship with the local basketball community. All he can do is buy out the Huskies and rename it to the Tassie Devils.So then he will have 4 teams in Tassie Is that what he wants? He will have to have local feet on the ground to run it. There is no one better known in basketball circles than Stewie. Coach? GM? Who knows. Not sure that he has thought it through at all. The land he is buying has local exclusions as well. Can't do this, have to keep this access open. A lot to consider.

Bartlett has a lot connections in Tasmania probably more than anyone else, got on well with Stewart, they put a team together to win a premiership. LK doesn't make many bad decisions.

I would suggest that since Barlett killed the Chargers the relationship between the 2 is far from amicable. Barlett has burnt so many bridges in the basketball community together with the parents, kids, sponsors and volunteers. Hhe is a liability and no longer to be trusted. He did a great job over 3 seasons in buildiing the club and winning a championship, but they were still / are broke.

The Huskies realised that after a while whilst connected he went from being their spokesman to meh.
Q: How do you tell when a politician is lying?
A: When they open their mouth.

Bartlett is still a politician.

Sorry Scout. Bartlett killed the Chargers. Never to be forgotten.
The ego's of he and McCoy saw Barlett take his basketball home.
The other teams exist quite comfortably in the new NBL1 structure.
Anyway last I heard was that Bartlett hadn't spoken to LK for over 2 months. Pheeeew.

Barlett was the Chargers President. Came in and in the almost 3 years he turned the club around. Their debt was massive and I for one was suprised they lasted that long. When the NBL1 stuff came alone, Bartlett and BTAS / McCoy clashed.
The end result that totally unexpectedly Bartlet and only Bartlett withdrew the Chargers from entry into NBL1. Whether the Board knew or not I am unsure.
He / they were prepared to let all clubs in Southern Tasmania have no elite pathway.

See the bit where I said Bartlett and BTAS/McCoy clashed?

Yes that's right. TFG The Huskies took it over. BTAS are also running clinics here with Stewie doing that work.

It's a shit fight that needs LK to sort out.

The Chargers have always done what ever they wanted to do, despite what BTAS always dictated. NOthing in that what so ever other than Bartlett's spin.

Yet again Dazz. STFU about stuff you know nothing about.

I'm not certain any of us really no what’s going down but every one is entitled to opinion. You don’t have to agree with it but if you know let us all know but you like the rest of us are guessing. :)

Rest assured I know you don't know what's going on. Very few do in fact.
However there are a few that do. Nuff said.

Guys, say something interesting.

You miss the point that BTAS was paying the Chargers to run those clinics, as they do now!AFAIK Stewie is running under 15 and Under 18 clinics this year. So Bartlett and the BTAS thing is BS.
"Not about Chargers doing what they wanted, btas played politics then people like you blame Bartlett, he was in an absolute no win situation."
How is killing the Chargers by Bartlett a no win situation? He had a choice, accept the conditions to enter the NBL1 which he didn't want to do. That is a far more relevant point than regurgitaing old news.
It will be iteresting when LK gets the nod who will run the new Tassie Devils. LK or the Huskies.

It will be.

Not if AFL have got copyright on it.

They don't. NO one does it seems.

Won't be Devils I suspect, will be a name that isn't already taken by a sporting team.

I actually like Huskies, with the we the South.

Tonight is the final D Day. Last roll of the dice.

Huskies is already taken.

Southern huskies we the south

Dazz. You shouldn't comment on stuff you know nothing about.

"Would splitting games between Hobart & Launceston even work, or would it be a logistical nightmare? Is there even a NBL-level venue up north??"
You do know the Southern Huskies spilt there games betwwen HBT and LTN? No I guess not. Yet you want to be taken seriously with your opinion.
Tassie Devils it is. Kestleman is meant to explain it all tomorrow.

Glenorchy Council voted in favour of selling to Kestelman tonight. It's on

Unfortunately and yet again the GCC don't understand what Kestleman wants. If they do they are deluded.
"Ms Johnston said Mr Kestelman had made it clear his proposal was contingent upon support from the Tasmanian Government."
Read into that Kestleman wants $20mill+ from the Liberal Government. IMO that will never happen.
Kestleman has no skin in the game of basketball here and that's a serious issue for them with the Huskies holding that card. At the level we are talking now BTAS and BA and every other sporting code that wants to use this new sporting precinct will need to have skin in the game.
There is still the issue of the Govt's $10mill election promise to build anew multi purpose courts out there as well.
Interesting times ahead and Larry has 120 days to extract that Government support. More time wasted. with the outcome already decided. Except Larry doesn't know it yet.

The press have access to Kestleman tomorrow and all the hard questions will hopefully be asked. Most importantly the GCC if they ever reach settlement will need to show full disclosure of the T&C of the brokered deal.

Paul. Hickey will never work with Bartlett. He essentially "forced" Hickey to take on 2 extra teams which he had no intention of doing. This has cost them an absolute bomb.
Barlett is a nothing figure now in basketball despite being quoted today as the "President" of the Chargers (which has no financial members). Will they pay back the Government money that they were given to run clinics which they haven't run? $10,000's involved there.

Who cares it's already been done idiot. Both venues and their games are live streamed.

Kestleman spoke with the press today. The Mercury will have that coverage and the tv news tonight.

The latest here.
https://www.themercury.com.au/realestate/nbl-boss-has-grand-visions-for-his-200-million-redevelopment-of-wilkinsons-point/news-story/74de398bdf149eefc2252f4e385a2907

Dazz. Stay out of topics you know nothing about.

Boti's thought on another Tassie team.
http://www.botinagy.com/blog/tassie-happy-as-larry/

Tasmanian Tigers

Devils2.0

and they will hang around for years despite everyone being sick of their endless dribbling after just a couple of months

From today's Mercury.
"Kestelman's grand vision of the completed sporting precinct will include a refurbished DEC, at least a five-court multisport facility and high performance centre.
He believes it could all lead to basketball becoming the most popular sport in the state.
"A big part of this is to actually make basketball the number one sport in Tasmania. That’s what we would like to see that’s what we’ve talked to Chris [McCoy] from Basketball Tasmania about.
“We really want to have an opportunity if we do end up putting an NBL team there, I think basketball can be by far the number one sport in Tasmania but that needs facilities and it needs a pathway."

Froling playing last 4 games for huskies. Telling everyone he's much better player now and beat players that got drafted, said didn’t play summer league due to some contract issues, sounds a bit suss. Interview on huskies face book page.

He said that if he didn't get a FT contract with and NBA team he wasn't allowed under his contract to play G League or anything else.Full time or nothing.
I doubt he will be a 6'ers p[layer next season. Nothing suss about that.

That good news for the huskies. Can they still make the playoffs?

Mathematically they can. They need to keep winning and other teams lose. H won't be eligible for the finals.

He said he was beating nba drafted players, one on one and three on three, if he was a chance of summer league, nba Adelaide would've had a nice buy out, that does seem suss. He’s full of it imo.

From The Mercury. July 1.

"But it is believed Mr Kestelman's plans for a Tasmanian NBL team are so advanced that in the near future he will travel to Launceston to check out the Silverdome and other possible venues about hosting NBL games as he aims for the new franchise to capture the entire state’s support."

Todays Mercury not long ago
"....was full of praise after his day of meetings.
"We’ll get through the 120 days and work with the Government but I couldn’t be more pleased with the process and the goodwill and the support from both the Tasmanian Government, the council and everyone seems to be onboard with what we are trying to achieve," Mr Kestelman said.
“I think we can make it a reality, there is a lot of work to go under the bridge.”
NBL owner Larry Kestelman in Salamanca Square before having a meeting at the Executive Building. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS
The Government and Mr Kestelman have agreed to enter into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to advance discussions, including what role the State Government may play.
Mr Hodgman described the meeting as productive.
“We warmly welcome Mr Kestelman’s plans to invest in Tasmania, and look forward to continued discussions with the NBL and the Glenorchy City Council,” Mr Hodgman said.

Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston was equally enthused but would not disclose if a value was discussed at the first meeting.

“We had really positive discussions and we are looking forward to working with both him and the State Government over the coming months,” Ms Johnston said.

“We started discussions around a whole range of things that need to be negotiated and discussed.”

Mr Kestelman said once he and his team had an understanding of the DEC’s requirements he could then approach the Government for support."

Deal is done.

I'd expect the Blitz to be in Tassie this year

Yes LK is one smooth operator, has great foresight and certainly comes as humble. Great roads ahead for the nbl.

Will they debut in 20/21?

^^^[
I doubt it probably more likely 21/22. Lot of work to set up team, starting with modernising the stadium to senior management positions, coaches, doctors, physios etc.

The Blitz is a curse.

Anyone think Wellington would be ready also for 21/22?
Would the NBL allow 2 new teams in same season?

Kestleman wants $25mill to renovate the DEC. This is where it immediately becomes BULLSHIT.

The other day Gentleman said we will need to hire architects etc. Then yesterday it's now $25mill.
Pretty sure this will end up in tears. The current Government are in the midst of a housing crisis, health crisis and transport crisis. Football is drawing fewer and fewer people.
Hodgman is under seige everywhere and
The last thing on his mind won't be giving an already wealthy man a $25mill handout.

LK IN town on Wed trying to to find investors. No success.

Think Wellington is a better option for team 10.
Taste seems like a long term project.

Tassie investors probably took one look at his arms race salary rules and said hell no.

Any investors don't necessarily need to be from Tasmania.

I'd say it’s dead unless the preseason is a roaring success, not certain what happened to the Huskies but players and coach were not happy at seasons end.

"LK IN town on Wed trying to to find investors. No success."

Heard the opposite. Tas team will enter in 2021/22

The lastest from today's Mercury.

"
DISCUSSIONS between the NBL and the State Government surrounding a Tasmanian team rejoining the competition are about to hit "crunch time", league boss Larry Kestelman says.

The huge success of the pre-season Blitz in September has only fuelled further positivity about the potential for the NBL's 10th licence being awarded to the state.
Talks between Kestelman, the Government and the Glenorchy City Council continue to bubble away in the background, with Kestelman remaining confident a decision will be made by the end of the year.

However he concedes ultimately it will come down to whether the Government is willing to invest in upgrading the Derwent Entertainment Centre to bring it up to world class standard.

“I think we’re now getting down to the pointy end. I think a lot of it is just going to come down to what does the Government feel about that venue?” Kestelman told the Mercury.

“That’s probably what I feel is our biggest challenge. As we experienced in the Blitz it is a challenging one, it is a 30-year-old venue that is really, really tired, it’s non-compliant.

“It is a very old shell so the investment that’s going to be needed into that venue will be substantial and that will be probably the biggest factor.

“I think the Government is very much on board, it’s obviously just going to come down to budget.

“We’re finally getting our reports back from architects who’ve done all their assessments on the venue as to what needs to be done, so, yeah, I think it’s down to crunch time, sort of the next 30 days, 45 days is where it’s all either going to happen or probably not.

“It’ll get decided soon.”

Doesn't look like they are doing much to derwent at all.

Man you don't know anything. Why not just sit in the corner and go back to COD or whatever.

Today: TASMANIA will house the best boutique stadium in the NBL outside the major capital cities if the State Government commits to upgrading the Derwent Entertainment Centre. League boss Larry Kestelman, who is in exclusive negotiations with the Glenorchy City Council to purchase the dated venue and Wilkinsons Point, will need a significant contribution from the Government to refurbish the building."

Half the building is missing, huskies had a better looking stadium when done.

Huskies while a great idea just didn't have the money and weren’t patient enough, wanted it to happen all over night and LK worked out real quick they were presenters.

Hardly. Where do you think LK got the idea from?
Why is half the building missing?

It's 5000 in basketball mode and about 7000ish in concert mode.
Chargers had about 3300 there last season for one of their SEABL finals.
Great venue and despite what Kestleman is saying, the ol girl isn't as bad as he is making out.

"the best boutique stadium in the NBL outside the major capital cities"

Okay so it will be better than Cairns?

NB: It always seems to me that when used i this context, "boutique" is French for "Too small and shit" or "sorry, we couldn't afford anything better"

I'm a bit confused by what LK is saying.
Much of what he says makes sense, that the DEC needs to be fixed, the government needs to spend the money, and should do so sooner rather than later.
But why would the government(s) spend the money and then give it to him?

He is trying to buy the DEC and the surrounding land.
He is expected to spend $250mill in that precint.

Oh "If they can't achieve 4,500 on average, then they aren't going to be capable of sustaining an NBL side." Don't tell Illawarra that will you or the NBL.

KET please don't compare what happens in other large venues around Australia.
Remember KET that LK will OWN the land and the venue and the TEAM.

Clearly you have missed that point. Equally the renatl cost of the venue will be substantially less than anywhere else in Australia.
I would guess a 3000 crowd would be more than adequate.
Hell the AFL games (at times) struggle to get 10,000 people to a game in Hobart and you want 6500!!

A lot euro clubs have no 5000 seat stadiums, some less.

Yeah so no United bullets or phoenix

Last I heard they were targetting 5 x $500,000 sponsors.

There spending it all on north Melbourne and hawthorn.

"Oh "If they can't achieve 4,500 on average, then they aren't going to be capable of sustaining an NBL side." Don't tell Illawarra that will you or the NBL."

So if you're walking down the street and you tread in dogshit, do you kneel down and rub your face in it also? - Illawarra is the prime example of what they need to be better than, not something they should emulate. - There is only one way to make a sustainable NBL club, and that is bums on seats.

"KET please don't compare what happens in other large venues around Australia.
Remember KET that LK will OWN the land and the venue and the TEAM."

OMG you are a fucking moron - please stop posting.
Who gives a flying shit what LK owns - is that your recipe for success? - Creat a complete basketcase of a club and then expect LK to prope it up for all eternity. - cos clearly LK is as big a moron as you and has made his Billions by pouring money down the toilet.

"Sponsorship isn't going to be a major part of the overall venture either. This is a major development with a basketball team attached. The basketball team will attract support, don't worry about that, but the plan is much bigger than that."

Paul just shut up, your posts don't make any sense.

The NBL club needs to be sustainable. End of Story.

Man there are a lot of crackheads here.
"Creat a complete basketcase of a club and then expect LK to prope it up for all eternity."

Why did LK create and own the Bullets and the Phoenix? Take over United?

You simply don't get it do you. Stay off the crack man and clean your act up.

Don't foregt the hotel and (possible) student accomodation. The latter will be a massive earer, trust me.

Paul is right in this case. If this gets off the ground there will be nothing like it for any sport in the country.

The from yesterday's "The Mercury" - Brett Stubbs (Paywall)

"Call to act on DEC or lose investment and national side
BRETT STUBBS
SPEND taxpayers' money now on the Derwent Entertainment Centre and get a $200 million investment and an NBL team in return or spend it in five years’ time and get nothing.
That’s the message from Tasmanian NBL advisory board member and former premier David Bartlett as negotiations over the sale of the DEC between NBL owner Larry Kestelman, the Glenorchy City Council and the State Government heat up.

Kestelman has promised an investment in Wilkinsons Point of $200 million that would create a hotel, shopping, restaurant and sporting precinct and 1100 jobs if he lands the sale of the DEC and surrounds for about $18 million and gets Government support for the redevelopment of the centre - believed to be in the range of $20-$30 million.
If all proceeds, Tasmania would reenter the NBL for the 2020-21 season in a brand-spanking new DEC.

The 30-year-old venue is the state’s only 5000-seat arena capable of hosting indoor concerts and sporting events, but urgently needs millions spent on lighting, audio and visual aspects as well to become disability compliant.

Mr Bartlett said if he was Glenorchy mayor, he would simply shut the doors and hand the keys back to the Government if this deal failed.

"Whether or not this happens, Tasmania cannot be without a modern 5000-seat arena," Mr Bartlett said. “It is hard enough to get bands and concerts down here as it is.

“This money is going to be spent on the venue in one way or another, and it is going to be spent by the taxpayer. The opportunity here is by doing it now to also receive more than $200 million of capital investment – the investment of scale of another Mona — into the city of Glenorchy over the next five years.”

He said unlike the AFL and the ALeague pushes, there was an NBL licence on the table with Tasmania’s name on it.

“This is a real opportunity for Tasmania to have another team in a national competition, and I think it is absolutely vital we don’t fumble the ball now.” Mr Bartlett said there was only one aspect missing from making Hobart a great city.

“Great cities of the world have culture, great food and a national sporting team,” he said.

“The only missing ingredient to make Tasmania and greater Hobart great is an all-year-round sporting franchise that plays in a national league – and basketball is ready to fill that void.”

It's summed up here very well by LK.

For the usual doubters here it is. Some nobody said earlier that nothing was happening about the DEC. Nothing could be further from the truth with the LKG meeting the Premier this week!

https://www.facebook.com/WINNewsTasmania/videos/2151189268508946/

#makeorbreak

Hopefully those that know nothing about the DEC stuff will finally desist posting their stupid comments. It will all come out by years end I would expect. #patience

Today's "The Mercury" latest on the NBL stuff.

"FEDERAL funding could be required to break the impasse between the NBL and the Tasmanian Government over the redevelopment of the Derwent Entertainment Centre.
NBL owner Larry Kestelman was in Hobart yesterday for another meeting with the State Government that would see an upgrade of the 30-year-old venue and the state's re-entry to the league. Mr Kestelman is in exclusive negotiations with the owner of the DEC and surrounding Wilkinsons Point — the Glenorchy City Council — but is seeking state funding to bring the venue up to standard.

Premier Will Hodgman said talks were continuing but no agreement had been reached as yet. "Today’s presentation provided further detail on potential opportunities for our state, which would require funding from all levels of government," Mr Hodgman said.

“As we have maintained, any deal with the NBL would need to represent value for money and it is with this in mind we will review the proposal before our next meeting with the NBL.”

Mr Kestelman plans to build a $200 million shopping, food and sporting precinct around the DEC site at Wilkinsons Point should he acquire the venue and gain state funding.
The NBL declined to comment on yesterday’s meeting.

The two will meet again later this month with a decision to be made before Christmas.

Why is the state government stuffing around so much when they hand money over to afl at will. It's time Tasmania, stop stuffing around.

Hopefully the state government doesn't muck this up,they have several upgrade versions to look at including leaving it at the current 5400 seat capacity and 7000 including standing room with some smaller changes or spending a higher amount to upgrade it to a 10000 all seater.These options are all been looked at and I believe they should get it right the first time by upgrading it to the 10000 all seater version,this will help attract some of the bigger artists that don't currently come to tassie.I noticed the artists impressions released a week or so ago only showed half the seating currently in the stadium,which was a little silly,just imagine what the stadium would like at double its current capacity,please get it right.

Many artists don't go to Tassie because of the freight issues. Not because it's not a 10,00 seat stadium.

It doesnt need to be a 10000 seat stadium. It can currently hold 7500 people when not in basketball mode.
Then of course if you get 3-4k to a basketball game it will look empty.

Fuck me dead, governments have been handing over tax pay land for years.

The Sydney entertainment centre was knocked down and given to private developers to build units, and a shit small entertainment hall. The original entertainment centre was 30 years old and had years left in it, went from around 12000 to 2500 capacity It made the owners of Qudos Bank Arena happy as now they have got the only decent centre in Sydney, also built on government land. Packers crown casino is on the best piece of real estate in Sydney, also free government land. The new stadium at parramatta is the same and there are others in all states.

I'm not saying it’s the right or wrong way to do business but it’s been happening for decades.

On today's ABC radio Tassie was the lowest spending government on state infrastructure. The C
DEC should be part of that spend.
Life is far more than hospitals, teachers nurses police etc.
Lifestyle is an important path. Equally the ongoing $1mill + spend on maintaining the DEC will eventually become the Government's issue

Seems the argument here is that one way or another the Govt is going to need to invest in the DEC to get it up to date. They can either do that, and have LK invest $200M in the state through the proposed deal, or they can do that and have a loss making asset and none of LK's investment money.

Either way, the Govt are going to need to spend taxpayer money on the DEC.

Today's "The Merury" news.

"CONSIDERING the very justified political heat at the moment over the state of care at Tasmania's two big public hospitals, it’s going to be a very big ask for the Hodgman Government to do what it probably should and invest a lazy 20 or 30 million dollars into upgrading the Derwent Entertainment Centre for the National Basketball League.

That is the amount of cash being requested upfront by NBL boss and developer Larry Kestelman as the initial public contribution to his offer to not only base a team from Tasmania out of the DEC, but to spend $200 million redeveloping the surrounding Wilkinsons Point area. Estimates put the result of that investment as potentially being 1100 new jobs in Glenorchy — and a $40 million increase in annual gross regional product.

And so it sounds a pretty good deal — with the activation of Wilkinsons Point into a shopping and sporting precinct a massive opportunity for a part of our capital city that could really do with it.

Having our own team in the NBL again would also be a feather in Premier Will Hodgman’s cap — and an upgraded DEC would be another benefit, particularly for attracting big acts to tour here. The Mercury is editorially supportive of the redevelopment proposal, as a concept.

But Mr Kestelman’s latest pitch meeting with the Premier came on Monday, smack bang in the middle of the latest political firestorm over the performance of our hospitals. And that’s the problem. Mr Kestelman has been consistent in saying that he wants bipartisan state support for his proposal — including, most importantly, that pretty sizeable public contribution (plus $1.5 million annually to support the team). To put it bluntly, he does not want to be accused of putting a basketball team ahead of the needs of sick kids. And that’s fair enough. That would certainly be a pretty easy case for the Labor Opposition to make, should it not also be supportive of a public contribution to upgrading the now-30-year-old DEC.

It doesn’t matter what the positive outcomes are, at this time in our political landscape it would be too easy to be critical.

That’s probably why the Premier made a very interesting shift in his language after Monday’s meeting — saying that progressing the NBL’s idea "would require funding from all levels of government". And now that adds a challenging roadblock, because there is little political reason for the Federal Government to make any investment in the proposal as it sits in the middle of the seat of Clark that is held by progressive-leaning independent Andrew Wilkie.

So what we are left with is this: the state is being offered a $200 million new precinct in a part of our capital city that could really do with it for a one-off public contribution of about $30 million, and then an annual $1.5 million commitment to underpin another team in a national sporting competition. The estimated return for the local economy would be 1100 new jobs and $40 million a year, according to the proponents.

But the deal is now caught up in politics — with the state tentative about making such an investment and it being hard to see why the feds would get involved. All that being said it’s probably time the Labor Party told us what they’re thinking about all this."

Politics taking over now.

"It is understood Mr Kestelman and the DEC and Wilkinsons Point owner, the Glenorchy City Council, have come to terms, but Mr Kestelman won't progress without a commitment of state funds from the Government.
"We remain excited by the opportunity this presents," Mr O’Byrne said.
“But we have always qualified that with wanting to understand what the commitment from Government would be. We are yet to be informed on that.”
From today's Merury.