If he starts handing money out to the NBL because of a budget surplus, absolutely everyone will have their hand out for some cash...
Regarding the AFL I would have thought that west Australians love their footy enough to fill Optus stadium for the only GF in Perth, no matter the teams playing

NBL don't want the cup

Iron ore price has plummeted, that surplus won't last long

Not a bad idea having the Cup in Perth since WA fans love their sports. Be interesting to see what the NBL come up with.

I don't mind this idea at all, especially with my desire to see a 2nd team in WA (Perth).

Imagine if the NBL Cup games were to be played in various population centres, south of Perth (and in Perth, of course). I can only think of places like Fremantle, Bunbury, Rockingham, Albany (a bit too far away?) and even Kalgoorlie (not up with the towns/cities in WA) and others, no doubt. If a commercial and popular success, it might generate some support for a 2nd Perth team.

To those who claim that no-one would support a 2nd team, look at the AFL GF just past. 60,000 crowd/sellout for a footy game that neither WA team competed in, and, the 2 teams competing were Victorians no-less (forgive my praise of the AFL GF)! Shows me that they love their good sport for the sake of it. No, I don't mean that they "cop" anything. A lot like Melbourne in that (Perth-ites) flock to another NBL team, soon.

The following year(s), we could use similar model for future expansions in NZ, Newcastle or western Sydney, and western Victoria.

BTW, I also like the idea of cancelling Blitz and replacing that with the NBL Cup, in the pre-season.

Be a shame if they cancelled the Cup. It would be hard to organise because of the extra games and that we still live in a covid world. Only way the NBL will have games in New South Wales is if enough people get vaccinated. If Sydney and Illawarra were forced to relocate away from their fans it would be a massive blow to the league.

I could see the NBL Cup work better if teams could play home and away games if every team could play in front of their own fans. I'm keen to go to any extra Melbourne games even if it’s a separate competition. Just a massive lover of basketball.

I get jealous how Europe have so many different competitions and Australia just go with dates that can’t clash with Footy, etc.

Be a real kick in the ass if the NBL scrap it. If you Look at the 140 regular season NBL games you wouldn’t think any of those’s games would be Cup games. I could be massively wrong, but it’s a bit too earlier to say. I think if the Cup was going to happen they would have to have it separate like what Europe does with their Cup games.

There will be no issue in NSW holding games with crowds, the issue is WA going to allow teams to travel from NSW to WA. The answer is no before Easter. I can see other states allowing free travel once 80/90% vaccinated but WA have been firm on this.

Very true, states and their health experts.

Once the country is at a high vaccination rate there will be no excuse to open the states up.

I realised a second Perth team in the NBL could work?

Wildcats use to play at Challenge Stadium. It was one of the most loudest stadiums in the league when packed. Challenge Stadium would be perfect for a second Perth team behind the Wildcats.

Second team doesn't need to play at Perth Arena which holds 13,000 plus.

5,000 at Challenge would be perfect then when they host the Wildcats they can play at Perth Arena. Would be a great rivalry.

United v Phoenix rivalry is getting a bit better, but Melbourne had already a better rivalry with Tigers, Magic or even Dragons.

Travel was the main issue why we don't have a second team in Perth. AFL grand final in Perth was amazing for two Melbourne based teams.

How's this for funny, there's a guy at work called Connor Henry, another called Mark McGowan.

Hilarious.

I do miss challenge sometimes, great value seating

"Travel was the main issue why we don't have a second team in Perth."

Ignoring the fact that a second team in Perth would actually reduce the overall travel? A team anywhere else means even more travel for the Perth team(s). How can Perth to Fremantle(for example) compare with Perth to anywhere east of SA?

That's believable.