View Full Version : An NBA game in Australia?
RedbackVenom
16-02-2011, 07:27 AM
Today's Herald-Sun in Melbourne and SEN radio (with Andrew Gaze) report that NBA Asia in conjunction with the NBL and Basketball Australia are looking into the feasibility of hosting an NBA game in either Melbourne or Sydney in the very new future.
Herald-Sun Link: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/australian-bid-for-nba-game/story-e6frfgbf-1226006512442
"Ultimately, the goal is to get an NBA game here," BA chief executive Larry Sengstock said yesterday. "It's a costly exercise, but ... we want to get players and coaches here."
"We want to promote the NBA because we've got players (Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills and David Andersen) in it. Andrew is a potential all-star and is doing very well."
Getting a match-up involving the 'marquee' teams you mentioned there would obviously be the dream, though very farfetched.
Getting a regular-season match-up would logistically be very tough - we are only seeing the first games taken abroad - and this is two Atlantic teams crossing the Atlantic (in Toronto and New Jersey)
Though some sort of preseason fixture could work - involving Milwaukee and either New Orleans or Portland. It would be early October and could whet the appetite of basketball followers in Australia.
RedbackVenom
16-02-2011, 10:36 AM
We are more likley to get a small market team like Milwaukee who just so happen to boast a high profile Aussie to come out an play rather than the Lakers for example. The Hornets are also a likely option given the NBA is their current owner and they are being shopped around to potentially move city.
As for venue, what about playing the game at Melbourne's Etihad stadium? the stadium has the capability to accommodate a rectangular configuration for soccer and rugby when implemented. If Dallas can stage an NBA All Star game in their 100,000 seat indoor football stadium, then surely Etihad stadium and it's 55,000+ seats could do it too? Would an NBA game involving Milwaukee with Melbourne born Bogut playing against the Hornets for example who also boast Melbourne born Andersen fill Etihad stadium?
haggard
16-02-2011, 10:43 AM
Do I remember something in the Sunday Times a few months back about the Wildcats hoping to stage a friendly with the Lakers when they move to Perth Arena? It was prob more a wishful thinking article than anything else.
Melb Wildcat
16-02-2011, 11:43 AM
would be easier for a team from california to travel here than any other team. However with Bogut's connection id like to see Bucks vs Cai team (hopefully not sacramento)
Lethal Vertical
16-02-2011, 12:59 PM
Would an NBA game involving Milwaukee with Melbourne born Bogut playing against the Hornets for example who also boast Melbourne born Andersen fill Etihad stadium?
Realistically? No chance.
Perhaps, with some marketing on oneHD and papers in the leadup they could aim to get Rod Laver close to selling out.
Dunkin' Dan
16-02-2011, 01:05 PM
Yeah, I think Rod Laver would be ideal and could be filled without a great deal of advertising being required.
Etihad would be terrible for watching a basketball game, surely.
Bucks-Clippers sounds good to me.
Reboundz
16-02-2011, 02:14 PM
Yeah, I think Rod Laver would be ideal and could be filled without a great deal of advertising being required.
Etihad would be terrible for watching a basketball game, surely.
Bucks-Clippers sounds good to me.
Acer Arena in Sydney would be a better option with 20,000... after all, OneHD seem to be saturating us with Sydney games and BA claims it was the Sydney market that the broadcasters wanted before signing off on the free to air deals.
Interesting, nobody expected Magic Johnson to come over in the 90s and it happened. Anything is possible.
Melb Wildcat
16-02-2011, 04:02 PM
A better example would be the Dream Team vs Boomers at Rod laver.
Getting an old magic johnson here with his 'allstars' wouldnt of been too hard.
bogut
16-02-2011, 04:04 PM
Sorry can't help myself here :)
This isn't the same talk as Iverson joining Sydney or Rodman joining Wildcats? ;)
joycefan
16-02-2011, 09:23 PM
id rather see 2 big euro teams come over. ie Maccabi Tel Aviv v Barcelona @ rod laver. that would be loose!
Clips
16-02-2011, 09:29 PM
We are more likley to get a small market team like Milwaukee who just so happen to boast a high profile Aussie to come out an play rather than the Lakers for example. The Hornets are also a likely option given the NBA is their current owner and they are being shopped around to potentially move city.
As for venue, what about playing the game at Melbourne's Etihad stadium? the stadium has the capability to accommodate a rectangular configuration for soccer and rugby when implemented. If Dallas can stage an NBA All Star game in their 100,000 seat indoor football stadium, then surely Etihad stadium and it's 55,000+ seats could do it too? Would an NBA game involving Milwaukee with Melbourne born Bogut playing against the Hornets for example who also boast Melbourne born Andersen fill Etihad stadium?Playing surface is far too big. Front row would still leave you squinting at the far end of court. Cowboys Stadium has the worlds biggest TV that you can watch the game on.
Clips
16-02-2011, 09:35 PM
Bucks-Clippers sounds good to me.
*boner*
Clips
16-02-2011, 09:37 PM
Acer Arena in Sydney would be a better option with 20,000... after all, OneHD seem to be saturating us with Sydney games and BA claims it was the Sydney market that the broadcasters wanted before signing off on the free to air deals.
Sorry to gon off on a tangent, but is there much doubt to this? It makes sense that the largest market in a country is utmost priority to potential sponsors...
The Glove
16-02-2011, 10:13 PM
what thought about Bogut being a Melbourne boy ....
Although I'd agree that Acer would be the best option.
MacPark
17-02-2011, 06:07 AM
I wouldnt mind who came out here even though I would prefer Orlando but honestly anything would be good for the game in Australia and a great specticle.
Earnie Shavers
17-02-2011, 11:46 PM
We did actually have a decent opportunity in the late 90s. Loads of government cash available for pre-Olympic venue testing/general hype building major events, whether they were Olympic sports or not (for example, remember there was an NFL game in Sydney at this time) and I believe there was some decent initial momentum behind getting NBA teams here then. Nice to see BA finally think its a good idea.
gangsta boo
18-02-2011, 05:17 AM
If they travelled this far why couldn't they play a game in Sydney and Melbourne?
RedbackVenom
18-02-2011, 07:31 AM
If they travelled this far why couldn't they play a game in Sydney and Melbourne?
I think that would be the idea...more information in The Age's article on the same topic:
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/basketball/australia-shoots-high-to-bring-an-nba-game-down-under-20110215-1av4f.html
From this article:
Sengstock said BA officials had met with NBA Asia officials who have already taken NBA games to Chinese cities.
NBA international visits usually involve two teams playing each other twice over two nights.
He said the main obstacle was the cost of hosting a visit which he expected to be more than $10 million.
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