In-principle agreement has been reached to pave the way for Tasmania to have an NBL team for the first time in 25 years, in a major win for the community.
The in-principle agreements reached to date with the LK Group and Glenorchy City Council are significant milestones with the next step being the negotiation of legally binding arrangements to enable the establishment of a Tasmanian based NBL team. These arrangements, once finalised, not only stand to propel Tasmanian basketball to the national league, but will underpin significant investment leading to jobs and economic benefits for the greater Hobart region.
We have been clear that any deal for our state to have an NBL team of its own would need to represent significant value for Tasmanians, and the final agreements should see not only an economic injection of $102 million, but also the creation of around 1,200 jobs.
With the DEC to be retained as a state asset, the central elements agreed in-principle with LK Group include:
LK Group Larry Kestelman said, “Tasmania is a proud state with a rich sporting heritage and deserves teams in national sporting leagues. The Hungry Jack’s NBL is Australia’s fastest growing sport and the best basketball league in the world outside of the NBA.”
Glenorchy City Council Mayor Kristie Johnston said that selling to the State Government means the DEC remains in the community’s hands. “The proposal put forward by LK Group means Tasmanians will reap the benefits of a joint public/private investment, it’s the best of both worlds,” she said.
The license would see Tasmania playing in the national league from next year, with the majority of home games to be played at the redeveloped DEC, and at least two games played in the north of the state each year.
The Tasmanian Government is the greatest supporter of fostering genuine pathways from grassroots to elite level sport, and there is no doubt a Tasmanian NBL team would increase the profile of basketball in our state, benefiting home-grown talent in players, coaching and administration.