Darwin Salties boosted by $400,000 in government funding for growth and expansion
The Darwin Salties have received a major boost following ‘a strong show of support’ from the government. Here’s how it will help ‘turn dreams into a reality’.
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The NT government will hand nearly half a million dollars to NBL1 North team Darwin Salties to support the growth and expansion of the men and women’s NBL1 teams and secure its future in the competition.
The Salties, who are vying for a dream NBL licence in future, will receive $400,000 from the government to help with player recruitment and retention, junior development pathways and membership growth.
Currently the Salties have a $1.1m budget per season to run the operations of its two sides in the NBL1 North competition.
The money is set to support the Salties in their growth as they look to produce strong results and provide a pathway for upcoming basketballers in the Territory.
Since joining the NBL1 last season the Salties have rose to become the most watched team where online viewership has exceeded all competitors.
Chief minister Natasha Fyles said the NT government the Salties would keep “growing and succeeding” and that “this is just the beginning.”
“The success Salties gives all of us is something to celebrate and be proud of,” Fyles said.
“This $400,000 funding continues to support the Salties. Territory kids can now see what is possible and are striving to one day become a Salties player.
“I’m focused every day on building the Territory’s future, and the growth of this truly Territory team is part of that future. I know they’ll keep growing and succeeding, and making us all proud to be Territorian. This is just the beginning.”
Salties co-general manager John Mitchell was thankful to the government for its support, saying the funds would help the Salties to foster the operation costs of their various programs.
“They have supported us all the way through but this strong show of support now just goes to show you that they are 100 per cent behind what we are trying to do in the community,” Mitchell said.
“This is not just about the basketball but about the community and providing a linear pathway for our youth.
“The players go out into the schools, they go out to the youth detention centre, they are out here supporting the DBA and BNT basketball programs, and all ability programs as well.”
Darwin Salties Coach Matt Flinn said the support from the government would have a “massive impact” on the Territory basketball community.
“What the NT Government has offered grant wise will now create a legacy that will go on for years and decades to come,” Flinn said.
“We all know what sport does for kids and now our young Territorians can have a clear pathway and play at the highest level.
“This type of injection can have a massive impact to the basketball community and the wider Northern Territory community.”
Darwin Basketball executive officer Kerri Savidge said the funding has “helped secure the future” of the Salties.
“It gives us the ability to provide a great, ongoing game night experience,” Savidge said.
“It will help us turn a lot of dreams for the club into reality and put life back into us to go on and reach the next step.”
An NBL team in Darwin could help drive the Territory towards its 2030 target of a $40b economy
A national level basketball team in Darwin would have a “considerable” impact on the city’s liveability and economy as new livestream numbers reveal the Salties are the most watched team in all four NBL1 conferences.
It comes as the NT Major Events Company has completed a feasibility study which could inform an NBL licence bid.
Its strategic advocacy document revealed an NBL team would showcase the Territory across the globe and improve local liveability.
A local team would also bring “considerable” economic and social benefits through a stadium upgrade, with the Darwin Convention Centre considered the most likely home base at this stage.
“Importantly, securing a team has the potential to positively influence quality of life outcomes of Indigenous Australians in the Territory, through improvements to physical health, educational engagement, diversion of anti-social behaviours and community cohesion,” the document revealed.
An NBL team based in Darwin could also attract tourists during the “shoulder and low tourism seasons” and would be an “important enabler” towards the NT government’s target of a $40bn economy by 2030.
The study also found sustainable growth of the Darwin Salties over the medium term could create pathways for players to enter the NBL with a future local team.
It comes as new data showed Darwin was also the most watched NBL1 team in the country after eight rounds, with 86,485 average viewing minutes per game.
The Salties were also the second-most watched team in NBL1 North last season, with approximately 1.25m livestreaming viewing minutes and 38,700 unique viewers.
The document also revealed more than 2800 “unique individuals” – or the number of individual people who attended – came to the NBL’s pre-season Blitz in Darwin last October, with 7000 attendees in total over the eight days of play.
More than 600 people attended the Blitz from interstate, bringing an estimated $1.69m in spending to the Territory.
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