AFL and NBL licences in the Territory would boost the NT economy

Granting the Territory both AFL and NBL licences would be a major boon for the local economy, the Chamber of Commerce says.

Darwin’s hunt for AFL and NBL licenses should result in a major boost to the NT economy.

Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland said the benefits of the Territory having its own NBL licence had been on his radar for some time with the benefits potentially profound.

Mr Ireland said with an almost “ready-made” stadium in the Darwin Convention Centre to host matches, it would further activate the CBD.

“It’s been on our list for a little while … it just makes so much sense,” he said.

“Its ability to activate the CBD and create an environment where people start to circulate pre and post those games, to visit restaurants and bars and take in the sights.”

Mr Ireland said a Darwin-based team would also attract visitors from Asia who had a “very, very strong basketball community”.

The NT government has committed funding to a feasibility study into a potential NBL team in Darwin.

Makuach Maluach was recruited by NBL team Melbourne United after strong performances with Darwin Salties in the NBL1 North season. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images.

“It makes sense that you start to look to that region as well … business links flow from those sporting links,” Mr Ireland said.

“There’s a lot of positives around the basketball community which is very strong here in the Territory.”

Meanwhile, Mr Ireland said an AFL team in Darwin, and a requisite stadium, would be a “very expensive exercise” which would require major investment from the private sector and government.

However, he said a city-based, multipurpose stadium would also activate the CBD at a “substantial” level, which could also draw big name artists and musicians who currently bypass the Territory.

An artist impression of the proposed AFL stadium for the Darwin CBD. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Ireland said if the finances checked out, it “absolutely would” be a financial and social boom for the Territory but it would ultimately be an “investment versus outcome decision”.

“The cost of that stadium and the cost of running a club is substantial, that all has to be balanced out,” he said.

“But is this a good idea? I think the answer is a resounding yes.”

Territorian footballer Jed Anderson celebrates a goal for North Melbourne against Gold Coast Suns at Marrara in June. Pictre: Felicity Elliott/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Mr Ireland said an AFL team in the Territory could help remove the “barrier” of recruitment of people from other states, as many want to watch elite level sport, especially football, in their own backyard.

“It would have a real livability benefit,” he said.

Mr Ireland also said an AFL team could be specifically branded to represent Indigenous communities both in the Territory and across the country.

“It would certainly be a way to bring them into the fold and get them more actively engaged in opportunities in that particular economy,” he said.

It comes as a draft report from a government-commissioned social impact study, which will inform an overall business case, has been completed.

It’s difficult to talk sports tourism without mentioning the NT Racing industry, which with 72 race meets across the year generates close towards $140m to the NT economy.

And coming out of Covid, the Darwin Cup Carnival enjoyed one of its biggest crowds on record with over 16,000 people coming through the gates on Cup Day this year.

Thoroughbred Racing NT chief executive Andrew O’Toole called the Darwin Cup a must-attend event for any racing fan.

Victory as Gary Clarke trained horse Playoffs ridden by Jarrod Todd scores an emotional win in the Great Northern Darwin Cup. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“It’s a bucket list event and I think this year with everything open again people have been keen to travel, keen to get out and keen to fill that bucket list,” Mr O’Toole said.

“The weather plays a big part in it as well and there was a lot of interstate visitation this year with a lot of the big tour groups coming up.

“The NT government is a big supporter of racing, they know that the more people who come to the carnival the better it is for the NT economy and that’s been evidenced this year.”

And to boost the value of Racing in the Territory, TRNT will be entering a deal with SEN Track to push their product further.