NBL back to 12.

[Choppies]

Good to see Basketball here expanding.
I remember there was also talk of a Gold Coast franchise as well.
Personally in the next few years I would like to see a Gold Coast team get in as well as Canberra again.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,16961124-23769,00.html



NBL reverts to 12 teams
By James Dampney
October 19, 2005

VICTORIA will again have two teams in the National Basketball League after a group headed by Melbourne businessman Mark Cowan was awarded the dormant Giants licence.


In a move that will be confirmed today, the NBL board has decided the time is right to again expand to a 12-team competition.

A licence has been left dormant since the Victoria Giants folded at the end of the 2003-04 season.

An ownership group led by Cowan has been granted the licence and will give the team an entirely new identity, with the logo and colours to be determined by fans.

The group has decided to distance itself from any link to the former Giants and Titans franchises, although it will again have Vodafone Arena as its home court.

The Titans were born in 1998 after a merger between the old South East Melbourne and North Melbourne franchises.

The team reached four straight post-seasons under then-coach Brian Goorjian before going into administration, with businessman Peter Fiddes beating Cowan to the Titans licence.
Fiddes promptly sacked Goorjian and renamed the team the Giants, but they lasted just two years before again pulling out in 2004 because of financial concerns.
It capped a difficult few seasons for the NBL, which had to endure Sydney going into administration in 2002 and the Canberra Cannons licence being transferred to the new Hunter Pirates franchise.

 

[McLovin]

IMO there should be at least 2 or 3 teams in each state and territory except the ACT and 2. Then it will be a truly NATIONAL basketball comp. imagine a 20+ team league...

 

[Panthers_God]

20 teams is a bit much, there nto enough talent for that yet.

Its good to see the game is expanding though.

 

[Choppies]

And another article on it

http://nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=2449

Second Victorian team
Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 01:03 PM
NBL

The Board of the National Basketball League today announced that it had approved the transfer of the Victoria Giants license to Cowan Basketball Pty. Ltd., clearing the way for a second Victorian team to return to the Philips Championship in season 2006/07.

NBL Commissioner Rick Burton said the transfer of the Giants license ensured the Philips Championship would return to a 12-team competition next season and that a new cross-town Melbourne rivalry would be born.

“The transfer to Cowan Basketball of the Giants license - which had lain dormant for two seasons - is a huge step forward for the Philips Championship,” said Burton. “Not only does it see the NBL return to a more-balanced 12-team competition, but also will write a new chapter in Victoria’s proud basketball history. This presents a fantastic new opportunity for the Melbourne public and supporter base to get behind their teams.”

“Melbourne is well known for its interest in sport and this return of the second team is a reflection of the support and interest in basketball in Victoria. The timing is also perfect for a second Victorian team to return, with the Commonwealth Games being held in Melbourne in March 2006. With basketball included for the first time and Australia the overwhelming gold medal favourites, it will undoubtedly boost the interest in our sport and the opportunities for basketball and the two teams in Melbourne.”

“Even more importantly, the new ownership consortium has sound financial backing from Mark Cowan and Raphael Geminder, the Chairman of Visy Industrial Packaging, that will help to ensure the long-term success of the team off the court.”

The head of Cowan Basketball Pty. Ltd., Mark Cowan, said that they planned to launch a completely new Victorian team rather than bring back the Giants, the Titans or any of their predecessors.

“We are delighted to acquire this NBL licence and are looking forward to building an exciting new sporting brand in Melbourne,” said Cowan. “We wish to thank the Victoria Giants for supporting our bid and their commitment to keeping the licence in Victoria.”

Cowan said that the new team plans to start recruiting as soon as possible and that they will start by initiating a local and international search of all available talent to take up the crucial positions of Head Coach and General Manager.

The financial terms of the license transfer remain confidential as per standard NBL policy.