National Basketball League's Expansion Plans Include Taking Games To Regional Centers

The National Basketball League "has outlined an ambitious plan" for a potential Canberra team to play multiple games in Goulburn, Queanbeyan and Wagga Wagga as the league "looks to expand its fan base along with its clubs," according to Jon Tuxworth of the CANBERRA TIMES. NBL CEO Fraser Neill said the strategy is designed to ''take the game to the fans'' and ensure more supporters can commit to memberships. Canberra, Brisbane, Wellington, Tasmania and a second Melbourne team "have been identified as possible expansion areas" for the '15-16 season. Neill said that basketball's ability to take games to smaller venues "is a strength that should be exploited." Neill: "We want to get a bigger catchment area, let's take the game to the people and make it as easy as possible to see it. If they get to see the team they have a sense of ownership, I think that's really important" (CANBERRA TIMES, 4/6).