‘Newy’s Got Next’: Push for new stadium, NBL and WNBL franchises to represent Newcastle region

With a long and proud basketball history in the Hunter Region, a push is on for NBL expansion to go back to the future. Here’s how Newcastle plans to bring big-time basketball home.

Newcastle is looking for a push to re-enter the NBL in the coming season. Pictures: Getty/Greg Francis

A renewed push for Newcastle basketball to rejoin the NBL and WNBL is gaining momentum amid nationwide talks of further growth in basketball in Australia.

This week Geelong was earmarked by the league as a potential new venture to add to the already nine-team competition and now Newcastle is also throwing its hat in the ring.

Newcastle was part of the first 21 seasons of the NBL as the Falcons before folding in 1999, with the Hunter Pirates also representing the region between 2003-6.

Dean Robinson started the ‘Newy’s Got Next’ campaign with a goal of bringing NBL and WNBL back to the Hunter, something he believes is long overdue.

“Newcastle has been without a team for a long time. To have a team for both the men and women we can support on the national stage would be great,” Robinson said.

“Around the time the SE Melbourne franchise was announced, I thought I’d love to see that in Newcastle.

“The biggest hurdle is the venue. The current Entertainment Centre is a bit tired and out of date.

“An upgrade is something that’s been pushed as part of the Hunter Park development, and a new venue would open up the region to touring and cultural acts as well.”

Should the proposed upgrades go ahead, Robinson said powerful backers could hold the key for the return.

“Wests have mentioned a couple of times they think they could fund it, potentially with a Super Netball franchise,” he said.

The Newcastle vs Sydney rivalry from the 1990s. Picture: File

“If the right funding is there, it could be a super team all managed by the same group.

“With a new Newcastle Entertainment Centre, it would ensure almost a year-round tenant using the venue.

“Newcastle Basketball has said an NBL team is out of their budget, which is fair, but the WNBL could be possible.”

As for the time frame, Robinson said they would like to see a new facility up by 2030 at the latest, but could accommodate a team much quicker than anticipated.

“If they were willing to start off in the existing Entertainment Centre with the knowledge a new one is coming, I don’t see why 2025 is unrealistic,” he said.

“The league is going from strength to strength, and it looks like things are in a good place.

“They were able to get Tasmania up pretty quickly and SE Melbourne in a similar time frame.”

Ryan Beisty of the Newcastle Falcons in the NBL1 East competition. Picture: Greg Francis/@DiscoveryOne_Photography

With both Newcastle and Maitland performing well in the NBL1 East competitions, plus the dream of former Novacastrian Ben Simmons dipping into ownership, Robinson believes the future would be bright in the city.

“Simmons spent time here as a junior and to get him involved would be pretty cool,” he said.

“There’s lots of other NBA players who have dipped into NBL ownership.

“There are a lot of strong juniors and talent in the NBL1 and we’d like to give them somewhere to progress that is local and we’re not losing players to the Hawks or Kings.”