NBL’s David Stevenson provides an update on JackJumpers sale, bigger stadium

The NBL chief executive has given an insight on where the sale of the Tasmania JackJumpers is at and the “active conversations” regarding growing the home arena.

The demand for JackJumpers tickets continues to grow. Picture: Supplied

NBL chief executive David Stevenson says the league will make “no apologies” about taking its time to sell the Tasmanian JackJumpers.

The Jackies have continued to attract strong interest “locally and internationally” since hitting the market but the league is in no rush to finalise the sale.

“There’s a lot of people who are interested in purchasing the JackJumpers,” Stevenson told this masthead ahead of Wednesday night’s play-in game against Illawarra.

“There’s a couple of things that are really important to us. Ideally, we want to have some local representation in that ownership.

“And two, we want to make sure it’s an owner or ownership group, that can add strategic value to the club. We want to make sure they’re active, helping the club expand and grow.

“We want to be really selective and make no apologies for that because it’s such a great sporting team of the whole state.

“We’ve got to make sure the new owners would take the same love, care and attention that’s been provided so far.”

Given the JackJumpers “incredible success story” since their inception, demand for seats at MyState Bank Arena continues to grow.

Stevenson admitted there had been “active conversations with all levels of governments” about potential growth.

“We think it’s a compelling proposition to increase the size, whether its MyState Bank Arena, (or another project), and turn that into something that not can only cater to the people we have on the waiting list, which to the best part is 2000.

“But the bigger opportunity I see for the Tasmanian Government is actually around tourism.

“At the moment you think about a big finals game in Tasmania, big teams coming down, there are lots of people who would want to travel with the team at the moment they just can’t get a ticket.

“We’re very respectful that there is a lot of requirements for funding in Tasmania, across health, education and other sports.”

Ahead of the clash with the Hawks, Stevenson declared strong praise for the JackJumpers.

“I think the Tasmania JackJumpers are the most successful expansion team of any sport, anywhere across Australia,” he said.

“When you think of every single game across three years selling out, making the finals all three years including championship series, the way they’ve been embraced by the Tasmanian community and the way the club has embraced the community.”

Originally published as NBL’s David Stevenson provides an update on JackJumpers sale, bigger stadium