Geelong United Basketball will manage over 1000 teams this summer as it bids to manage Geelong Arena

A local NBL team is “worthy of great discussion” but adequate grassroots facilities is the biggest issue in the sport, Geelong United Basketball’s chief executive believes.

An NBL team based in Geelong again is “worthy of great discussion” in the future but grassroots facilities for everyone is a bigger issue, Geelong United Basketball’s chief executive believes.

GUB chief Mark Neeld told the Geelong Advertiser the city would need a new stadium and strong commercial and government support to bring a big league team back to the region, decades after the Supercats exited the NBL.

It comes after league co-owner Larry Kestelman met with the City of Greater Geelong earlier this year about the future of Geelong Arena’s operation and a tender process opened on September 18 for its management rights.

The Geelong Advertiser understands the NBL, YMCA and Aligned Leisure have at least made inquiries.

Geelong United Basketball chief executive Mark Neeld. Picture: Alison Wynd

Neeld said a proposal to bring big league basketball back to Geelong had some merit.

“I believe at some stage it’s worthy of great discussion,” Neeld said.

“There’s a fair bit of work that needs to be done. It’s not as simple as saying let’s bring out the bells and whistles, let’s go for this.”

He stressed Geelong currently did not have an adequate stadium to host NBL games, with the Geelong Arena having a capacity of 1500 people.

“We need a new stadium,” he said.

“The community also needs more basketball courts, so how can we achieve both?”

He pondered if the state government’s promised six-court facility at Waurn Ponds could include a show court for big league matches.

He also questioned if Geelong had the population and commercial sector support to back both the Geelong Cats and a new NBL team.

“You need to complement not compete with the Geelong Football Club and the Geelong sporting landscape,” he said.

“It’s been tried before, and it’s gone broke a couple of times.

Neeld after the GFNL grand final where he coached South Barwon. Picture: Mark Wilson

“That’s not to say it can’t be done into the future, but we need to be mindful of that.

“It’s not as simple as build a stadium.

“An NBL team, the revenue you need to run that, it’s 10 plus million.”

It comes as GUB has partnered with Belgravia Leisure to tender for the management rights of Geelong Arena.

However, there are concerns within local basketball circles if the NBL managed the arena the GUB would not enjoy the same level of access to four purpose-built courts.

Neeld said basketball over the past four years had grown “significantly” with GUB running several venues across the region.

“At the moment, our community competition is the biggest in the country,” Neeld said.

“Indicative numbers for summer, we’re going to have over 1000 teams playing in community competitions, and they’ll play seven days a week.

“We’re full.

“(Management rights) gives us to the flexibility to continue make that venue available for community use.

“It’s a community facility, let’s ensure it remains open for community use and at a price point the community can afford.”

The GUB also wants to expand several of its programs, including an all abilities tournament, social female and over 60s competitions into the northern areas of Geelong.

“Of the 1000 teams, there would be 50 per cent of them in the northern part of Geelong,” he said.

“We’re essentially full in terms of our court space, we do use seven different venues around Geelong.”

Originally published as Geelong United Basketball will manage over 1000 teams this summer as it bids to manage Geelong Arena