NBL expansion slow burn: Brian Goorjian warns the league not to repeat past mistakes

The NBL has set out a grand plan to add five more teams to the competition in the coming years, however the league’s most successful coach has delivered a clear warning to HQ.

The NBL has grand plans to introduce up to five new teams in the coming seasons, but officials are refusing to rush in a bid to avoid the type of franchise struggles that have plagued football’s A-League.

It comes as the national basketball competition’s most successful coach in six-time champion Brian Goorjian warned league HQ not to repeat “past mistakes”.

Expansion has long been a buzz word in Australian basketball following the NBL’s rise under owner Larry Kestelman’s reign.

The competition is now a respected global brand and a legitimate breeding ground for the world’s best league in the NBA.

Yet, two years after Kestelman was “completely blown away” by expansion interest, the NBL is no closer to adding more teams.

Officials have long stressed expansion is contingent on meeting key criteria: strong fan support, suitable facility and robust corporate backing.

The JackJumpers are the NBL’s recent expansion team. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Kestelman hoped the NBL could grow to 12 teams by 2026, but reiterated he doesn’t want more teams for the “sake of it” and new licenses must showcase a sustainable model and not disrupt the growth of current franchises.

This mindset hasn’t changed as the league looks to take a patient road to expanding Australia’s domestic basketball competition.

The NBL is determined not to wind up in the same territory as the national football competition, the A-League, where there have been concerns that overzealous expansion has led to problems with several struggling clubs - including Western United missing this year’s competition due to financial issues.

Legitimate question marks have also been raised about basketball’s depth amid blowout scores this season and if certain locations like Melbourne or Sydney are ready for more teams.

Goorjian believes the league has the talent to expand, but having previously coached at two clubs that folded due to financial issues, he stressed expansion must happen at the right time.

“You don’t want to put something in that is wobbly,” Goorjian told Code Sports.

“It has to be right because I’ve been through situations like when the Victoria Titans folded in 2004 due to financial issues.

“We had no idea who the club’s backer was and it lasted about an hour.

“Then Macquarie Bank sold to Firepower when I was at the Sydney Kings, so you need a franchise that is structurally sound because we can’t afford to make a mistake like that.

“Growth and more teams would be great though because there is talent and an excitement around the globe about playing in Australia.

“Players can come here for a shorter season and become better.”

NBL legend Chris Anstey is also in favour of expansion, but would like to see a new location instead of another team in a major market.

“I’d love to see new cities represented by teams before second teams in cities to further grow support for each team,” Anstey said.

“But again only if government, council and corporate support make it sustainable.

“The greatest responsibility for the NBL must now be the sustainability of all clubs, including expansion clubs, so that our next generation is supporting the same team they grew up supporting.”

Gold Coast hosted NBL24 and NBL25 pre-season tournaments. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images for NBL

WHERE THE NBL EXPANSION OPTIONS SIT:

GOLD COAST

Queensland’s Glitter Strip has long been an expansion option after successfully hosting the pre-season Blitz in NBL25 and NBL24.

The Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre will also host the final of the midweek Ignite Cup tournament on February 22.

There is a tender out in the market for a new Gold Coast arena, which is aiming for a 2030 opening as a confirmed venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Although Code Sports has been told some potential investors are yet to be convinced it is a commercial proposition.

NSW already hosts two NBL teams. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images for NBL

SYDNEY

A proposed new entertainment centre in Sydney’s Moore Park precinct is realistically still four years away from completion in a best-case scenario.

Code Sports understands the deadline for parties interested in the Moore Park Entertainment Centre tender closed late last week.

The NBL could use the ICC venue in Sydney’s Darling Harbour – recently renamed as the Tiktok Entertainment Centre.

The venue has a capacity of just 8000 and there would be some capital expenditure required, but at this point there has been no movement.

NBL CEO David Stevenson recently told SEN Radio: “Sydney would be another market where we would love to put a second team, but there is no venue downtown.”

Two teams playing out of Qudos Bank Arena remains an option, but it’s understood it is lower on the list of preference.

CANBERRA

A new entertainment centre in Canberra won’t be ready until early 2030, meaning the smaller yet refurbished AIS Arena could be a short-term option should the nation’s capital receive the green light for an NBL team.

The NBL successfully hosted this year’s pre-season Blitz at the AIS Arena

“It would be suitable for the start-up of an NBL team ahead of a transition to the new venue,” an ACT Government spokesperson told Code Sports.

NEWCASTLE

There is genuine momentum around a purpose-built entertainment centre for basketball and other sports getting off the ground in Newcastle.

The venue – which would be located near the home of the NRL’s Knights in Broadmeadow – would be a game-changer for the region.

It’s understood there is a business case finished for the project and there is a belief the next stage of funding is a realistic option.

Regardless, any new venue in Newcastle is still years away at best and would require NSW government approval.

DARWIN

Talks for a team in Darwin have stalled following a change of government in late 2024.

The new Northern Territory Country Liberal Party (CLP) government suspended talks with the NBL to focus on its budget, deferring plans for a local franchise and a $19.2 million stadium upgrade of the Darwin Convention Centre.

The demise of NBL1 team the Darwin Salties in late 2024 was a blow as the team didn’t survive due to unsustainable travel costs, highlighting the financial difficulties of running an elite team from the Top End.

MELBOURNE

Geelong has been floated as a potential expansion option, but there is genuine concern that it isn’t the right time to add a third Victorian team.

The Phoenix attracting a franchise low 3786 fans to its round six win over the Sydney Kings has also raised fair questions about the need to focus on building up the current teams before adding another.

Originally published as NBL expansion slow burn: Brian Goorjian warns the league not to repeat past mistakes