Basketball "is set for a 'revolution' in Australia" with an Indian Premier League-style rebel competition "set to be up and running within two years," according to Nick Smart of the HERALD SUN. Plans are well advanced for the launch of "Champions League Basketball," with the exec team behind it "very confident" it will be officially sanctioned by Basketball Australia.
CLB "has been described as a short, sharp and lucrative competition, which will be played in winter with big prize money on offer for the clubs and players." It will be rival to the National Basketball League, although "it will conduct its season in winter as opposed to the NBL over summer." CLB Founder & GM Matt Hollard: "I think most people in the basketball fraternity would agree that it (basketball in Australia) just needs a complete change." The league’s first season is proposed to start in May '17, running over 10 weeks "with eight newly-created teams across Australia and one in New Zealand."
The teams will pay an annual entrance fee of A$350,000 ($269,000), which "will go back into the prize pool." The exec team has already "presented its strategy to the board of BA and a high number of high-ranking basketball identities" (HERALD SUN, 6/4).
