NT Major Events Company analysis reveals ‘strong support’ for an NBL team in Darwin

Early research has revealed the amount of support for an NBL franchise in Darwin. It comes as a government agency consults with a Salties steering committee on the potential licence bid.

There is “plenty of support” for Darwin having an NBL team, early analysis from NT Major Events Company has revealed.

A spokeswoman for NTMEC confirmed “initial analysis” into the Top End having its own big league team was well supported.

“(It) showed plenty of support for the project,” the spokeswoman said.

“(Major Events) continues to work with a range of stakeholders to progress the matter.

“The most recent development is work around the technical requirements of an NBL team, to determine exactly what is needed in terms of facilities, training and recovery.”

This publication revealed last year the Darwin Convention Centre was being considered as a potential home base for a league team.

It comes as Darwin Salties steering committee member Nigel Browne said the group had been regularly meeting with NTMEC as works are progressed towards a potential licence bid.

This publication understands in an ideal scenario the existing Darwin Salties would be a “feeder” outfit for an NBL team.

NT Major Events Company chief executive officer Suzana Bishop is reportedly a keen supporter of the Darwin Salties. Picture: Supplied.

“Major Events has been speaking to the Salties steering committee in relation to co-ordinating something,” Browne said.

“I’ve met and continue to meet with the new Major Events CEO Suzana Bishop.

“I know she’s a very keen supporter of the Salties and basketball in general.

“I haven’t come across anything that would indicate the government’s gone cold on (a potential licence bid).”

However, he said a team would be privately owned.

“At the end of the day it’s not going to get off the ground without government support,” he said.

“The team itself would be owned privately but there would still be that need for government support.

Players from the NBL’s newest franchise, the Tasmania JackJumpers, at the NBL Blitz in Darwin in October, 2022. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images.

“I think you’d (ideally) have teams playing in the NBL1 and the NBL, to become a feeder team if you like.

“I think from a community perspective most definitely there is a hell of a lot of support (for the Salties).

“I think most of the home games have been sold out.”

Browne said Bishop was also a keen supporter of basketball at a grassroots level.

“Her kids like mine, play on a Saturday and a Sunday,” he said.

“I’ve spent the better half of two decades down at Marrara, as a player and also watching the kids suit up.

“It’s just gotten bigger and bigger.

“We actually don’t have enough basketball courts (at Marrara).

“I reckon they could double the number of courts and they’d still be well attended.”

Sports Minister Kate Worden said Major Events would be spearheading the push at this stage but admitted the local supporter base for the sport was “massive”.

A Salties spokesman said the franchise was determined “to show national bosses that Darwin can and should have teams in the NBL and WNBL competitions in the near future”.

“One of the three reasons our club was created was to lay the foundations for NBL and WNBL teams and we are determined to keep showing the country we can successfully run a semi-professional franchise,” the spokesman said.