Super Netball licence: Tasmania and Geoff Lord decline to make bids

The deadline for submissions on the eighth Super Netball licence has passed with two interested parties failing to make bids - they explain why here.

Netball Australia hopes to make an announcement about its eighth Super Netball licence before the showpiece competition’s grand final next month after the deadline for bids passed on Tuesday afternoon.

But the organisation may have received as few as just one formal bid for the licence, with other interested parties unable to meet conditions of the bid in the time frame needed to enter the 2024 competition.

The news that Melbourne businessman Geoff Lord had not made a formal bid, meant the only certainty was that Netball Victoria had submitted a formal response to Netball Australia’s RFP (request for proposal).

Netball Tasmania CEO Mitch Coulson has confirmed the organisation has not made a formal bid for the eighth Super Netball licence. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

While Netball Tasmania (NT) had expressed interest in forming a team, there was an acknowledgment the turnaround for 2024 was extremely tight and the member organisation confirmed on Tuesday night it hadn’t made a formal submission.

“Over the past month Netball Tasmania have had constant dialogue with Netball Australia and the Tasmanian Government to fully explore Tasmania as a potential market for an SSN (Super Netball) team,” NT said in a statement.

“All parties agree on the many benefits of Tasmania as a home for SSN and the strength and passion of the netball community here.”

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NT chief executive Mitch Coulson said it was a matter of timing.

“Over the last month we have compiled the foundations of a very compelling case for SSN in Tasmania and while we are not making a formal submission now due to the time constraints involved, we are confident about the future prospect of our own SSN team in Tasmania,” Coulson said.

“We know that Netball Australia do want to expand the SSN competition in the very near future and I can assure everyone in Tasmania that we are working in close partnership with the Tasmanian Government to ensure that we are at the front of the queue.”

Geoff Lord, head of investment company Belgravia.

Lord, the chairman and chief executive of the Belgravia Group, informed NA yesterday that while his company had a “keen interest in supporting and potentially having a financial interest” in an SSN licence, it would require a financial partner to do so.

Lord said Belgravia’s due diligence had revealed shortcomings in NA’s forecast income streams in key areas.

While NA chair Wendy Archer said in a statement: “It’s really pleasing to see the number of formal applications we have received for the eighth Suncorp Super Netball licence”, the organisation would not confirm the number of bids.

A subcommittee, with members including NA board members Archer, John O’Sullivan and Peter Legg, CEO Kelly Ryan and external consultants David Gallop and Colin Smith, will now assess the applications.

“The subcommittee will now work through the submissions and we hope to be able to make an announcement regarding the eighth licence in the next fortnight,” Archer said.

Collingwood play their final Super Netball match in front of a strong crowd in Launceston. Photo: Getty Images

Netball Victoria chief executive Andrea Pearman said the organisation it would work with any interested parties in a bid to ensure the licence is kept in the state.

“We’re really open to (working with others if that’s necessary),” Pearman said.

“For us, the number one priority is that second team (remaining) in Victoria and we would be happy to work with anyone that wanted to set up another Melbourne team,” Pearman said.

“I think for us strategically though, if you’re asking for Netball Victoria to make a commitment financially to a second team, then it’s got to be aligned to our strategy.

“And our strategy sees that regional growth particularly through the Geelong Ballarat, Bendigo corridor and the western side of Melbourne.”

Canberra and the Gold Coast, as well as a stand-alone Netball Geelong proposal had previously ruled themselves out of the running.

NA is likely to look at expansion for season 2027 in what would be the first year of a new broadcast deal.

Originally published as Super Netball licence: Tasmania and Geoff Lord decline to make bids