NBL owner remains confident a decision on Tasmania’s re-entry to the league will be made by the end of the year

The NBL has provided the State Government with a detailed report from last month’s hugely successful Blitz, hopeful it highlights the effect a team from the state could have if granted a licence.

The appearance of LaMelo Ball, left, during the NBL Blitz attracted huge numbers online to watch the future NBA talent. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

DISCUSSIONS between the NBL and the State Government surrounding a Tasmanian team rejoining the competition are about to hit “crunch time”, league boss Larry Kestelman says.

The huge success of the pre-season Blitz in September has only fuelled further positivity about the potential for the NBL’s 10th licence being awarded to the state.

Talks between Kestelman, the Government and the Glenorchy City Council continue to bubble away in the background, with Kestelman remaining confident a decision will be made by the end of the year.

MORE: TALK TIMEFRAME EXTENDED

Premier Will Hodgman and NBL executive director Larry Kestelman at a launch event at Riverside Primary School for the NBL Blitz. Picture: PATRICK GEE

However he concedes ultimately it will come down to whether the Government is willing to invest in upgrading the Derwent Entertainment Centre to bring it up to world class standard.

“I think we’re now getting down to the pointy end. I think a lot of it is just going to come down to what does the Government feel about that venue?” Kestelman told the Mercury.

“That’s probably what I feel is our biggest challenge. As we experienced in the Blitz it is a challenging one, it is a 30-year-old venue that is really, really tired, it’s non-compliant.

“It is a very old shell so the investment that’s going to be needed into that venue will be substantial and that will be probably the biggest factor.

“I think the Government is very much on board, it’s obviously just going to come down to budget.

“We’re finally getting our reports back from architects who’ve done all their assessments on the venue as to what needs to be done, so, yeah, I think it’s down to crunch time, sort of the next 30 days, 45 days is where it’s all either going to happen or probably not.

“It’ll get decided soon.”

MORE: GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT CRUCIAL

The Derwent Entertainment Centre is badly in need of an upgrade (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

The NBL has provided the Government a report from the Blitz — highlighting the impact and reach the pre-season tournament made.

This includes:

• nearly 9000 fans attending the four-day event across five locations

• A global reach of 1 billion people across print, online, broadcast and digital with a media value of $10 million

• 340,000 viewers watching on Facebook and Twitch globally, with interest in Next Gen stars LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton attracting mass interest in the US

• 100 community engagement activities including 23 school visits reaching over 31,000 people

• 10,000 people have now signed up on NBLTAS to support a team coming to Tasmania

Fans packed into the Kingborough Sports Centre. 2019 NBL Blitz Pre-Season. Illawarra Hawks V Perth Wildcats. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

A post-Blitz survey of fans also saw 84 per cent of respondents declare they would like to see an NBL team in Tasmania.

“Some of the numbers are incredible, we had 27 out of the 30 NBA teams represented [via scouts], when they all go back and talk about Tassie, I know they all loved it,” Kestelman said.

“So that’s an important factor, part of what we’re trying to do is make sure that we expose Tasmania to the world through basketball, and those sort of conversations are priceless.”

Premier Will Hodgman said the $300,000 investment from the Government to host the Blitz was money well spent.

“The Blitz brought an exciting taste of the NBL to Tassie, and was well supported by local basketball fans.

“Importantly the engagement of the NBL across our state, particularly through school visits and coaching clinics, was a great demonstration of support to the development of grassroots basketball in Tasmania.

“The Government certainly welcomed the opportunity to bring the biggest stars in Australian basketball to Tasmania, getting great exposure for our state and considerable social and economic benefits off the back of it.”