No chance of FTA in the near future - it didn't rate when it was on the up, what has changed?

Nothing much wrong with the sport that millions of dollars wouldn't fix

don't think the tv angle has been tried and tried tv stations are not going to air stuff that isn't going to rate for them they aren't stupid.

when the sixers got replayed late at night was when it was at apollo and the place was sold out - more interest people who wanted to go couldn't and would happily watch at 11 or 12 at night to see the game.

these days we can't even fill or half fill the stadium there are not hoardes missing out on the action they ARE CHOSING NOT to go!!

big difference.

there won't be any quick fixes, but why don't we be proactive.

why not have a hoops forum bbq fundraiser - passionate committed basketball public all putting our money where our mouths are and yes we pay we when we spectate - etc but how many of us on here actually don't pay to play or pay to watch etc? how many of us have spent years in the sport and won through hard work etc the right to free entry (life membership)

if we all tossed in $10.00 a head maybe wouldn't be more than a drop in the ocean to the debt but it is a proactive approach other than our constant hand wringing.

Sounds like a good idea. The biggest problem is for people like me who used to go to the games regularly, but had to move for work and can no longer get there. I would love to be able to go to every home game but it is now a 5 hour drive each way. wasnt so bad when it was only one hour. I would just like to see where the thousands of dollars my family and I have spent on subs, court levies, game entry has gone, it seems like someone up the top is eating all the hard earned money away.

Particularly as it relates to basketball in this State, I suggest engaging the services of this person - I mean, she got an A for her work and everything. ;)

Some Minor Calculations



District lets say:
Under 12s 10 teams each with 8 players. = 80 kids.

$200 a season for subs (not sure on figures these days but that I was paying $240 in the 1990's)

200 x 80
= $16,000

$16,000 just for 10 teams, lets go through with 10 teams per sex per age group (u12, u14, u16, u18).

that makes 80 teams

80 teams x 8 players
=640 people

$200 x 640
= $128,000 per year

That is just for subs, let alone tickets for entry.

in my local association before i moved i was paying $6.60 a game, but just incase lets say tickets only cost $3.00 a game.

$3.00x640 = $1,920 per week

18 games a season
$1,920x18
=$34,560 per season

Now lets add it together:

34,560 + $128,000
= $162,560 per season

I am sure my calculations are under estimated, so even if of that money $100,000 goes back into the clubs and associations, renting premisis, electricity etc, there is still $62,560 per season surplus. Just from having 20 teams with 8 players in each age group from u12s, u14, u16, u18.

This doesnt take into account the local comps which also brings in money for the stadiums. Or the tickets sold for 6ers and Fellas games + merchandise

Sorry that was a very long winded calculation

A friend of mine recently informed me that there is another way to get sports on FTA TV.

Ever wondered how sports like Sprint Car racing get on Channel 10?

The sport actually pays for airtime, and sells all of its own advertising to fill the time slot, so you see the sport-specific adds on during the broadcast, like Repco Auto etc.

These events are only on say once a month, but it may be an option for the NBL to pay the ABC or SBS to show games.

Anyone know if Foxtel have an exclusive rights deal, which would rule out the above approach?

thanks Bo Hamburger, But I think I think my dog could do a better job being organised enough to get something done. I hope she referenced the sight when she handed in the paper. it seems she will never succeed when she goes to Uni.

thedoctor, I think the Foxtel deal would preclude that sort of arrangement. Otherwise the Sixers could look to put an abbreviated or full game on Ch 31, sell advertising to cover the time, and use that as a starting point.

There is a lot of junk on TV. Think about the ridiculous shows on late at night, or the 30-60 minute advertisements like Bright Ideas and whatever the newer one is - I'd love to see any sort of sport replace those on air...

For what it's worth, I don't think Rick Burton is very much for the idea of clubs individually brokering their own TV deals due to an outcome of inequality. But many would think that even one or two teams getting a broadcast beats none at all.

Oldie

Remember that subs go to the club not BASA. Admittely one of the biggest cost for clubs is hiring courts for training (of which BASA gets some of this) and then there are registration fees etc that BASA collects, but last time I checked clubs were also spending big on ABA players etc.

$talks ABA players shouldn't be attracting big money

the presidents and the clubs realised a few years ago that the comp couldn't afford open chequebook league and introduced a salary cap of $25,000 with no more than $15,000 to the men.

In days past that figure would have been around the $50K for the men alone at some clubs.

Imports are a thing of the past we can't afford it. Lets rebuild the power base then move back.

South Australia has for a long time been the second basketball state behind the Vics. We have produced per head per capita more AIS and Australian players / coaches and referees than any other state.

In Refs alone Geoff Weeks, Carolyn T and Michael Butler have all attended Olympic Games, 1988 Seoul, 2000 Sydney, 1996 Atlanta respectively Mike and Carolyn both attended world championships Oz94 and 1998 respectively. Carolyn has also graced the courts in the WNBA

We have won 4 WNBL and 5 NBL crowns in just under 30 years (4 sixers - 1 Bearcats)

We have to the mix right - our blueprints have worked in the past - a bit of tweaking and reworking and we can do it again.

Realistically - bottom line - IMO most of our problems revolve around the Dome and the high % loan and salary blunders with the sixers over the years.

Our basketball knowledge and how to get there is not really in dispute - If i get time I'll list the south australians that have made it to an olympic games and I'm sure you'll be amazed at how well we actually do on a per head per capita basis!

yes victoria does it better in many ways, but they have so many more people, more buying power, more of a target audience.

As mentioned previously, you cant build a house by starting with the roof. The foundations need to be set and stable before anything. Focus on the kids in primary schools; grade 4-7 and get a 'sense of community' back into basketball so they feel affiliated with a local club. Logical, practical and workable. The schools would love to have ABL players take clinics, there is an abundance of financial assistance at local council, school and state govt levels and it works.
Build a strong state league and the ABL and NBL will prosper.

As someone associated with schools I know that staff love it when clubs come in and do clinics for the kids. It gives kids the opportunity for kids to experience a sport that their teacher may not have any knowledge about but wants to have as part of their curriculum

I fell accross this forum trying to work out how to buy tickets to take my sons to a 36's game (which I still havent been able to find) i heard on the radio to look at ticketek site .. well it aint there

maybe that is the problem . noone can work out how to get tickets unless they are in the know.

try targeting the kids who play basketball for schools etc. there are thousands of them let them know what they have to do to get to see games and become involved and I am sure their parents will follow.

KAZ,

Go to the game and you will get a ticket, a Sixers game has not sold out for nearly 3 years now.

99.9% sure that you will get a ticket at the door on any game (*unless it a semi-final or grand final).

On the night they have $20 ticket behind the baskets or $15 in the upper tier section.

Kaz-

You can also log on to the Venuetix website- they sell the tickets on there.

Kaz is right, when our boy wanted to play basketball we had to search hi and low to find someone that could guide us in the right direction. I reckon it's about time we saw some bumper stickers for both the 36ers and local clubs, maybe some promotional stands at the major shopping centres. I'm sure you can all say go here or go there, but the deal is, it should be dead easy to find out who is your local district club and how to get in touch with them. Maybe these things have been done before, but that doesn't mean we cant do them again, only better.

#66868, I will have to agree with you. I have been involved in basketball for over 15 years, and i am currently struggling to find a team to give me a game. This just proves that it is not just a Metro problem, it is also a problem in Regional areas too. I have just moved to the community, but noone seems to want me to play for them. It is a little disheartening, I am thinking about leaving the commuity and transfering back so I can still play the sport I love.

Basketball is one of the most popular sports that people of all ages like to play in Australia. The only reason people dont support basketball as much as they play it is because NBL basketball is not advertised enough and only a small minority of people have pay tv to watch it.

We have one womens game a week on free to air television and it is on channel two!If NBL was on a popular channel then it would be greatly followed and even increase the popularity of playing the sport which would get Australia and basketball back on its feet.

Maybe we could get a few million from the USA? After all, we have Americans in at least 20% of our team makeup, 50% in live game commentary, Boomer's coach, NBL top executive, main sponsors, coaching staff..etc. I once visited schools and found the kids knew all about the NBA and wore their gear, but very little about the NBL and the Sixers in particular. (The money must not be very good for NBL referees as I don't know of any American referees.) With citizenship offered after 5(?) years, it makes room for more imports. They don't even have to give up their USA citizenship. Maybe the older generation here might just be more interested in the Aussie content, and perhaps feel that is the main reason why Aussie Rules will stay our main game. Kids might think that with NBL teams filling up with USA content, they should consider their sport choices and opt for (ugh) soccer! Dunno..