Gold Coast city powerbrokers preparing to pitch for an NBL licence by 2024

Some of the most powerful figures on the Gold Coast are preparing a secret bid to create the city’s fifth professional sports team. GO INSIDE THE TOP SECRET DISCUSSIONS HERE

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate tries his hand against former Gold Coast Blaze player Jaydan Tom at the Broadbeach Mall. The mayor has added his voice to calls for a Gold Coast team in the NBL. Picture: Tim Marsden

MAYOR Tom Tate has added his voice to calls for a Gold Coast team in the NBL, but admitted that past attempts to do so were premature.

Gold Coast have twice fielded a team in the top league – once as the “Rollers” (formerly “Cougars”) between 1990 – 1996, and again as the “Blaze” between 2007 – 2012, which Mr Tate helped bankroll.

Both teams folded due to financial difficulties, spurred by low attendance, poor on-court performances and, in the latter case, the global financial crisis.

“Historically, when we were a much smaller city, we did bite off more than we could chew,” Mr Tate told The Bulletin.

“A huge financial challenge was the cost of setting up the flooring and venue hire at Gold Coast Convention Centre (where the Blaze played their home games).

“It made it so prohibitive that even if we had 2000 people in the stands, we could still not break even, and therefore it wasn’t sustainable.“

However, the Mayor said hosting games at the council-owned Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre at Carrara was an option that would help with the overhead costs of fielding a team.

“I‘m sure future owners could arrange a competitive rate at Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre,” he said.

The Rollers in action in the 1996 NBL championship.

Despite previous setbacks to a Rollers franchise, Mr Tate said he believed there was an opportunity to push for a Gold Coast team again due to local population growth and a sharp uptick in basketball participation rates, with the city now boasting around 6600 players.

“At a grassroots level, we have some of the highest junior participation in … basketball, so the enthusiasm is there,” he said.

The Mayor’s comments come as calls for readmission of the Rollers to the top tier of Australian basketball grow louder, following the teams consistently strong performances in the NBL1 this year.

The squad is now preparing for a blockbuster home semi-final against Northside Wizards on Saturday night, following their thrilling two-point victory over Logan Thunder in last week’s quarterfinal.

Rollers’ head of marketing and promotions Billy Cross confirmed he was working on a pitch to the NBL to present by 2024.

“We’re in the best position now as the city grows, and with the Olympic Games coming up … we can really attack this now and get that NBL team over the line,” Mr Cross said.

“The city’s ready for it – given what’s happening with population growth, we’re in the right stage to really pitch for this.”

Roller Jaze Morris is pumped for Saturday’s semi-finals. Picture Glenn Hampson

Despite the bullish predictions of Mayor Tate and the ambitions of Cross, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and former Gold Coast Blaze coach Dave Claxton cautioned that the obstacles preventing the permanent team in the past couldn’t be discounted.

“The population’s always been growing in the area, and despite that, it’s hard to ignore the support the Titans and Suns have had to have from the NRL and AFL,” he said.

Claxton urged authorities not to be seduced by the success of the Tasmanian Jack Jumpers, following their sensation 2021/22 debut season in the NBL.

“That was year one – the first question investors will have is ‘how long are you going to be around?’”

Claxton said high fan engagement, strong corporate support and an airtight venue agreement to “put a show on” would be crucial for a third Rollers act on the big stage.

“People need to have money to spend, corporations need to be doing well so they can provide adequate backing and the game nights need to be attractive to families with kids.”

Mr Tate agreed, noting that a new Rollers franchise would need “corporate boxes sold for three years in advance”, alongside a co-ownership set-up.

“I don’t think a one-owner model is sustainable and it would be better for syndication to start a reformed Rollers franchise,” he said.

“That way, they can attract more corporate support and manage a few years of negative cash flow before finding success.”

Rollers’ players Devon Sullivan and Jaze Morris. Picture Glenn Hampson

Despite the challenges involved, Cross said he was confident the Rollers’ dream could become a reality once again and pointed to regional teams Cairns Taipans and Illawarra Hawks as proof.

“Teams like Cairnes and Illawarra show why you don’t just have to be a big city to compete,” he said

“The Gold Coast is moving from a regional to a powerful city … we’ve got a great AFL and NRL team, so it’s time to have a great NBL team. ”