Adelaide Lightning’s future in doubt beyond this season unless investor can step in to save them
Adelaide Lightning — one of the state’s most iconic sporting teams — is staring at possible extinction again unless it finds a white knight investor.
Basketball
Don't miss out on the headlines from Basketball. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Adelaide Lightning — one of the state’s most iconic sporting teams — is staring at possible extinction again unless a white knight investor can fill a $500,000-a-season black hole which threatens its WNBL licence.
Adelaide Basketball Pty Ltd — which owns both the 36ers and the Lightning — sent its chief executive Ben Kavenagh to Melbourne on Sunday where he briefed players and coaches on the situation before their narrow loss against Melbourne Boomers on Sunday.
It also informed the WNBL and Basketball Australia on Friday of its six-week strategy to try to find a buyer or significant corporate backing before facing the unfortunate reality of handing back the WNBL licence.
The Lightning is averaging just 250 people per home game and cost owner Grant Kelley a combined $1m in the past two seasons.
Kelley’s preference is for the licence to remain in SA and management would welcome support from Basketball Australia or the State Government, but it is also understood to be open to a partnership with other venues, cities and even sports to continue the team’s 25-year history.
“Adelaide Basketball have invested $1 million over the last two years but now it’s time to share the responsibility,” Kavenagh said.
“We have made this announcement to encourage another investor to come forward and work with Adelaide Basketball to give the Adelaide Lightning team the resources and focus that it deserves.
“Adelaide Basketball has worked tirelessly in their support of women’s basketball in South Australia, but with a lack of community support, it is economically difficult.
“We are calling on the South Australian community to get behind Adelaide Lightning and go to games and we urge another investor to come on board to ensure the club is viable.”
Lightning coach Chris Lucas said his players “played their hearts out” in the two-point loss to Melbourne, and the pre-game briefing from Mr Kavenagh was not a distraction.
“I’ve worked my butt off for three years to get this program respected again and I feel I’ve done that and I’m looking forward to the future,” Lucas said.
It is a case of history repeating after the Lightning almost folded three years ago when then owner, the late Vince Marino, relinquished the licence after being unable to secure enough corporate and industry support in eight seasons.
Basketball SA stepped in as caretaker and a $150,000 sponsorship deal with the Motor Accident Commission in May, 2015, provided short-term security.
Kelley then stepped in to save the Lightning 18 months ago driven by a motivation to provide a pathway for elite women’s sport and seeing logical synergies with the men’s 36ers.
At the time Kelley said it “just makes sense” to unify the two teams under the Adelaide Basketball umbrella but he now concedes he underestimated the public and corporate support for women’s basketball and realises it needs more help.
He has however stressed the financial position of the 36ers is the strongest it’s been in the past decade and there are no threats to the health of the men’s NBL team which is riding a wave of confidence of strong game attendance (6000 a game this season), a TV rights deal with Foxtel and Channel 9, and a growing partnership with the NBA.
“Adelaide Basketball is a leading advocate of women’s sport in South Australia, which is why we took on the Adelaide Lightning basketball licence, subsequent to taking on the Adelaide 36ers,” Kelley said.
“However, we need financial help in the way of additional investors or sponsors for the Lightning, and most importantly, we need the South Australian sporting public to get behind the Lightning, and start attending games.”
The Lightning has been part of the WNBL since 1993, winning five championships (1994, 1995, 1996, 1998 and 2008), and producing Olympic stars including Rachael Sporn, Erin Phillips and Laura Hodges.
The Chris Lucas-coached team narrowly missed finals last season and currently sits seventh of eight teams on the ladder.
Even with double-headers scheduled alongside the 36ers this year, it’s estimated that only 400 people have been in the stadium at halftime of the Lightning game.
Rival teams around the league are either owned privately, by associations or in partnership with universities such as the University of Canberra Capitals and Sydney Uni Flames.
Marino bought the Adelaide Lightning licence from the State Government in 2006 and a report when he died in 2015 suggested he spent more than $4m in the next nine years keeping the team afloat.
Despite the urgency of the team’s financial situation, Kelley and Kavenagh have moved to assure the Lightning it will not be compromised this season.
Its next home game is against Canberra on Sunday, December 2, and there are eight rounds of the regular season to go, finishing on January 19 before finals.
‘Distracting mess’: Legends torn over Irving joining Boomers
Melbourne-born NBA star Kyrie Irving has expressed his interest in playing for the Boomers at the 2028 Olympics and while BA is open to it, some past champions aren’t so keen on the move.
‘Phone’s been buzzing’: Phoenix’s wild 24 hours after coach cull
South East Melbourne have wasted no time in searching for a replacement for sacked coach Mike Kelly, with Phoenix powerbrokers still believing they can make a finals push despite an 0-5 start.