NBL: Why Cairns Taipans must embrace private ownership
Privatisation has been on the agenda in Cairns for years, but president Troy Stone has revealed just how close they are to taking one of the biggest steps in the history of the NBL club.
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Cairns Taipans could shake their community-owned status and become the NBL’s newest, privatised club as early as next week - if only they had the right buyer.
Privatisation has been on the agenda in Cairns for years, but president Troy Stone has revealed just how close they are to taking one of the biggest steps in the history of the NBL club.
In an in-depth interview with CODE Sports, Stone lifted the lid on the Taipans’ efforts to make a major step towards joining the rest of the NBL in moving away from a community model which has served its time and its purpose, but handicaps their championship aspirations.
“I believe the Taipans will still be around in five years if there’s no private ownership, but it’s going to get harder and harder every season to remain competitive without taking that step,” he said.
“The sooner the better.”
DIRTY WORD
Privatisation was a dirty word for so long in Cairns.
Basketball fans could see what was unfolding around the league, but the Taipans front office, led by the NBL’s longest serving club CEO Mark Beecroft, had found a way to constantly punch above their weight.
Stone is one of those to have urged the need to consider the dramatic reshape of the club, describing it as something Cairns wants, and needs, to achieve.
“We got some pushback in one of our AGMs from some members but I feel like over the past few years everyone has come to the realisation that the way forward is to privatise the club,” he said.
“It has to happen.
“We’ve have met with numerous parties, met with Larry (Kestelman) and the NBL and we have their full support in privatisation, and we have interested parties right now.”
THE DETAIL
Simply put, the days of a community-owned team competing the NBL championship are all but over, and the Taipans not only want to survive, but to win.
Entering the league in 1999, Cairns were minor premiers in 2014-15 and featured in two championship finals (2010-11 and 2014-15) under Aaron Fearne, but lost both to the Breakers.
They are one of only two clubs yet to win a championship, though the other, the Phoenix, entered the league in 2018, two decades after Rod Popp coached the first Taipans team to a meagre 2-26 record in their maiden campaign.
The dream of bringing a national title to Cairns is one that remains alive, but it’s tougher than ever, with their making just one postseason in their past five seasons (and two of the past eight) clear evidence a change is needed.
“We put together a team every year we believe can win this thing,” Stone said.
“That’s the ultimate goal, let’s be honest.
“We do a great job in turning up some of these diamonds in the rough but the challenge is retaining when the big clubs come shopping.
“You take the basis of what we do season in, season out, on our budget, and who we’re able to find, the people we can recruit and design a team and play, and you put that in a private ownership model with additional funds, we believe we’d be unstoppable.”
THE NEED FOR CHANGE
Stone is convinced the Taipans could still exist into the future without privatisation, but any dreams of a maiden championship will almost certainly go on ice.
The club has a sensational track record of unearthing talented basketballers, giving them a chance in the NBL, then seeing them go on to bigger contracts at rival NBL clubs, and, for some, the NBA.
It’s a frustrating cycle for fans and Taipans officials alike, but a challenge the Taipans meet head-on each season.
But that challenge of putting together a roster to compete with the league’s best gets tougher every year, and while the Snakes punch above their weight, the financial handicap is one that continues to grow.
“There is (a future), but do we think we can win it with the gap between a private ownership team and a not for profit? It gets harder every year,” Stone said.
“I believe the Taipans will still be around in five years if there’s no private ownership, but it’s going to get harder and harder every season to remain competitive without taking that step.
“The sooner the better.”
THE RIGHT BUYER
The club currently belongs to the people in a community-owned model which has, recently, rapidly become a handbrake, though any potential suitor won’t necessarily be the highest bidder.
“One, the money has to be right, but two, the people have to be right,” Stone said.
“We’re not a big city club, we’re a small town club and we need people aligned to our community focus and how important that it is to our club – but with the big team mentality.”
And, Stone hopes, that person, entity, or whatever the future ownership group looks like, will be engaged in not just the club, but the city of Cairns.
“This isn’t just having a team in the NBL; it’s supporting the development and growth of basketball in Cairns,” Stone said.
“There’s people all over the world that are interested in these teams, our included, but it’s about the other tangible benefits, the bricks and mortar stuff they’ll invest into for Cairns and the basketball community.
Stone added: “It’s about finding the right people to drive this club for the next 25 years that are engaged, want success and want to support it, and want to support the community things we do.
“The biggest hurdle is finding the people that fit what we’re looking for.
“We’ve had no end of people who have had interest, but they haven’t been the right people, as yet.
“That’s not to say some of them couldn’t come back but that’s the biggest hurdle: finding the right alignment, but getting the vision of what the Taipans are and what we do.”
ON-COURT FLOW
Cairns remains the only club without a head coach locked in for NBL26 and have announced less than half a roster so far, with veteran Kyle Adnam, popular Taipans Sam Waardenburg, Kyrin Galloway, Alex Higgins-Titsha and Kody Stattmann confirmed to return.
Supporters are crying out for information – critics will say the Taipans are dragging the chain – but for the club, it’s simply a matter of making sure they make the right decisions across the board.
Stone said the team has interviewed numerous coaches, and live conversations were ongoing with potential players, but would not rush any final decision.
“We have to get it right,” Stone said.
“We want success, the town wants success, our sponsors want success, and so do members and fans.
“We’re taking out time to get it absolutely right, but without taking too much time to be left behind.”
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Originally published as NBL: Why Cairns Taipans must embrace private ownership
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