Basketball fans showing plenty of ‘Pride’ in their suggestions for Tasmania’s NBL team nickname

Nominations for Tasmania’s NBL team are flowing in thick and fast after just one week, with more than 5000 suggestions already submitted — but two popular suggestions will be off the table. HAVE YOUR OWN VIEW? Read where to submit it >>

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SUGGESTIONS to name Tasmania’s NBL team are pouring into league headquarters but two popular options almost certainly won’t be considered.

Since opening up the search for the state’s nickname a week ago for when it enters the competition for the 2021-22 season, more than 5000 options have been lodged at www.nbltas.com.au.

There have been plenty of weird and wonderful nominations put forward, including Pride, Titans, Warriors, Thylacines, Trailblazers, Timbers, Mavericks and the Brewers.

Mock-up of a proposed Tasmanian NBL team name.

Other selections proposed have been Spirit, Mountaineers, Freeze, Thunder and Wild.

Two suggestions, Devils and Tigers, have also been nominated on multiple occasions but NBL owner and executive chairman Larry Kestelman said despite their popularity, they are unlikely to be chosen.

AFL Tasmania — which ran its own public competition to name all of its football teams from juniors to seniors in 2018 — has trademarked Tasmania Devils, which is the proposed name of an AFL team from the state.

Mock-up of proposed Tasmanian NBL team name.

Both the men’s and women’s cricket sides are also well entrenched as the Tigers at first class level.

“We’ve been delighted with the response so far and the range of names suggested by Tasmanians,” Mr Kestelman said.

“There is clearly a passion for the new team, which will be Tasmania’s own.

NBL owner and executive chairman Larry Kestelman has been inundated with name suggestions for Tasmania’s team. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

“The campaign still has three weeks to go and we encourage everyone to put forward their suggestions and we then come up with a shortlist before announcing the name later this year.”

All Tasmanian residents can enter up to three suggestions, and will go into the running to win season tickets, a signed jersey and chance to meet the team before their first game in the 2021-22 season.

Mock-up of proposed Tasmanian NBL team name.

The NBL finalised its agreement with the state government earlier this month, which will see Tasmania return to basketball’s top tier in Australia for the first time since 1996.

The deal includes a $68 million redevelopment of the Derwent Entertainment Centre, as well as the construction of a new four court multisport facility.

Five key roles have also been advertised for the new team, with expressions of interest for the CEO position closed and interviews to be held shortly.

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