Geelong group makes play for Melbourne Boomers’ WNBL licence

Melbourne Boomers are under threat of relocation with a move underway to move the WNBL club to Geelong, Michael Randall and Jay Clark reveal.

Melbourne’s WNBL team could be headed down the highway because Geelong in the box seat to join the national league in place of the Boomers next season.

The Boomers’ longtime ownership group has during the past 12 months been exploring options to transfer its licence, amid heavy losses and a frustration with the stagnant league.

A consortium of private investors from Geelong and the Geelong United Basketball Association is behind the push to bring a national women’s team to the city and is confident it will thrive in the region.

Geelong’s junior basketball participation rates are through the roof and the sport’s popularity is booming in the regional centre.

Talks have been ongoing for months and the agreement could be rubber-stamped as soon as this month, although there is no formal timeline.

Basketball Australia was recently notified of the plan and has begun to explore the proposed transfer, which would result in Geelong joining the eight-team WNBL next season

Approaches will be made to star players to lead the new Geelong team if it is successful.

Geelong United has a senior men’s team in the semi-professional NBL1 league and the financial backers to secure its long-term future in the region.

However, it’s understood there is a view from BA that two Melbourne teams could be the best fit for the league before its next broadcast deal.

This season will be the Boomers last in their current form. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Bendigo is already a regional Victorian team.

The timing of the deal is crucial because the new Geelong team would need a window to secure the players, staff and resources before the season begins in November.

It is understood as many as seven of the eight WNBL clubs are facing considerable financial pressures after shared losses of almost $5 million last season.

Basketball Australia has been working through a process to revamp the WNBL operation and sell part of the league in a bid to boost its product and reward the long-suffering players but is yet to make any formal announcements.

There is also the spectre of the NBL and Larry Kestelman, who it’s understood maintains an interest in the women’s league.

The major development comes as Basketball WA, the only state body that owns and runs a WNBL club, looks for a potential buyer or joint investor for Perth Lynx.

The Lynx plays the first game of the best-of-three grand final series against Lauren Jackson’s Southside Fliers on Sunday.

Recently appointed chief executive Nathan Cave said BWA was continuing to explore opportunities.

“Right now, we’re laser-focused on winning a grand final,” Cave said.

“But BWA has been having discussions with various entities.

“If an entity made itself known (that it was interested in the licence) and, in the view of Basketball WA, it’s something that would be for the betterment of the Perth Lynx, then we’re a mature enough organisation to have a look at that and look at how, potentially, the program would be benefited.”

Originally published as Geelong group makes play for Melbourne Boomers’ WNBL licence