Breakers owner Matt Walsh has proposed that the NBL play in an NBA Restart style hub based in New Zealand for the first half of the season.
A scenario where all nine teams would play their first 14 games in various cities around the country before returning to an Australian based hub or normal operation if conditions permit midseason.
The season is tentatively set to tip-off December 3rd but current stage 4 restrictions in Victoria means travel and getting crowds to NBL games is unlikely for another four months.
Walsh’s proposal would see all NBL teams set-up in various cities around New Zealand ie. Wellington, Christchurch, Southland and play ‘home’ games in front of crowds for the first half of the season.
“I can assure you I am strongly endorsing New Zealand as the hub,” Walsh says.
“It’s the only place in the world where we can do safe travel and have zero risk of coronavirus
“It makes a lot of sense.”
Other tentative NBL plans include the Breakers mirroring the Warriors and Phoenix and setting up shop in Australia for the season – most likely the Gold Coast or the league being pushed back to February and starting with a full 28 game campaign.
Even with a late start date, teams would still play a normal schedule, playing one or two games a week per team, an interesting thought when the NBL previously saw it’s glory days during a winter season format which previously ran from April to October.
“A month ago when things were looking a lot better in Australia everyone was feeling positive about the bubble opening,” explained Walsh. “Now, with Victoria taking a real step backwards, we’re looking at basically three scenarios:
“One, is us being stationed in Australia for the whole season; two, is us playing all of our home games to start the season and Australia teams coming over if there’s a way to make that work; and, three, the season being delayed and trying to put it off in time for the bubble to open.”
When pushed by the media to name the most likely outcome, the Breakers’ owner said it was too tough in the current situation.
“I’d love to say I anticipate having home games this season, but I think it’s 50-50 whether we’re calling a city in Australia our home, or whether we load up with all our home games at the beginning or end of the season,” he said.
Walsh has said several Australian clubs have shown an interest in his New Zealand bubble strategy.
“A number of teams are looking at making a New Zealand city their hub city, if they can work out with the government and travel here safely.”
“You think about it and it makes a lot of sense.
“If you are a Melbourne team you come here and station yourself in Wellington or Christchurch – you will get some good crowds if you play your home games there.
“There are real discussions happening around that.”
Walsh also confirmed the club is in no danger of folding, despite the potential financial implications of a full season with no home games.
The American says the ownership group are fully behind their venture and have invested additional funds into the club where needed.
“The New Zealand Breakers will endure and we are committed to this and committed to the sport in New Zealand and the fans – we will be fine.”
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
