Tight timelines no concern for Larry Kestelman, who remains unwavering stadium will be ready

The start of the 2021-22 NBL season is just seven months away but league owner Larry Kestelman is showing no signs of concern the Tasmania JackJumpers home will not be ready for action

• Premier on the tools to begin DEC redevelopment
• Coach sets lofty ambitions for Tasmania’s return to NBL

NBL boss Larry Kestelman remains unwavering in confidence that the Derwent Entertainment Centre redevelopment will be completed in time to host games in October.

With demolition complete on the home of the Tasmania JackJumpers, work on transforming the building into a state of the art facility has begun.

And while the clock is ticking for everything to be completed for the start of the 2021-22 NBL season in seven months time, Kestelman’s optimism has not diminished.

In the state on Friday for the announcement Willie Smith’s Cider will become the foundation jersey partner of the JackJumpers, Kestelman said the ultimate dream of launching the first game of the season at the DEC remained on the table.

Owner of the NBL Larry Kestelman alongside co-founders of Willie Smith's, Sam Reid and Andrew Smith as they have jumped on board as a major sponsor. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“It’s been behind track for the last two years since we started, but you ask me a different question — will we deliver it? And the answer is yes,” Kestelman said tongue in cheek when asked about progress.

“We will absolutely play games there in October.

“The work has begun, we’ve appointed the builder on site, they’re working, they’re doing what’s needed. They understand the timelines and we’ll be playing basketball there in October.

“It’s very, very tight timelines, but the good news is that we’ve got everything in hand that we need to make it happen.

“It’s still viable [the first game of 2021-22 being in Hobart] but we’ll have a look at that, we certainly won’t make a call on that until we’re closer to the mark.”

Kestelman said the aim is to complete the current season — which would have normally finished this month — by the end of June, leaving a three month off-season.

The shortened break has thrown a spanner in the works for team coach Scott Roth, who confirmed he is talking to a host of players but will be unable to sign any free agents until mid-year.

“Obviously COVID put a wrench in everything … I just realised that I was going home yesterday this time last year with the season being over,” the former Perth assistant said.

“If the season goes until June, late June, then free agency will start in late June, early July for the NBL players and so that’s the only time we’re going to be able to get those players.

“There’s a whole host of other players that are out there, international players that are Australian that we are definitely in contact and looking at, but they’re not ready to make decisions quite yet.”

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