A second Sydney NBL team is expected to be the league’s next expansion franchise, with Gold Coast, Darwin, and Canberra all encountering significant roadblocks in recent months.

It’s believed the Harbour City Stars is the leading candidate for the team name, following a branding strategy similar to how San Francisco’s Golden State Warriors use a regional moniker rather than the city’s name. This broader identity would emphasize the team’s connection to Sydney’s iconic harbor while avoiding geographical constraints within the city.

In addition to Harbour City Stars, the NBL has also trademarked Sydney Stars, which could be a nod to the Sydney West Stars, a former NBL club that competed in the 1980s. Regardless of which name is ultimately chosen, the inclusion of “Stars” in the branding strongly suggests that the team will focus on becoming a Next Stars development hub—a concept the league has been trying to establish for years.

Next Stars Focus Shifts from Gold Coast to Sydney

The idea of a Next Stars-focused team was initially linked to the Gold Coast expansion bid, with discussions centered around a franchise designed to accommodate multiple Next Stars players. This model aimed to provide elite young talent with consistent playing time, addressing the challenges many Next Stars have faced on other NBL teams, where they have struggled for minutes and, in some cases, seen their NBA draft stock decline.

In a previous Aussie Hoopla podcast, former NBL CEO Jeremy Loeliger acknowledged that discussions about a Next Stars-oriented team had been ongoing for some time.

“There’s certainly a conversation that has been discussed for quite a long time now… It’s still a bit of an unknown and being worked through if indeed it happens at all” said Loeliger.

Further solidifying this plan, former NBA stars Carmelo Anthony and Kenny Smith, both ambassadors for the Next Stars program, have publicly stated that they intend to be part-owners of the next NBL expansion team. Their involvement further aligns the Harbour City Stars’ future with the Next Stars initiative.

Challenges Still to Overcome

While talks for Sydney’s new franchise are well advanced, there are still significant challenges to overcome before the team becomes a reality.

The NSW government has placed strict conditions on NBL expansion, with the league insisting that certain benchmarks must be met before a new franchise can be approved. These conditions are modeled on the successful launch of the Tasmania JackJumpers, who recently sold for $35 million, injecting approximately $800,000 into each NBL club. The JackJumpers’ financial success has set a high bar for future expansion teams.

If Sydney’s new team follows the Next Stars-heavy structure, it could become a key player development hub, much like the original Gold Coast proposal. The NBL’s collective bargaining agreement already allows for such a model, making it a viable path forward for new franchises.

Venue Securing Remains a Major Hurdle

To accommodate the new Sydney team, the NBL has been in discussions with the International Convention Centre (ICC) as a potential venue. Centre operator AEG Ogden (former owners of the Sydney Kings) has been in talks for some time, formulating plans to reconfigure a Darling Harbour-based arena for basketball use.

However, funding remains a significant hurdle. NSW Premier Chris Minns would need to approve additional financial support for the project to proceed. The ICC, which currently hosts concerts and corporate events, has a flexible seating capacity ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 seats, which could be adapted for an NBL team.

Bogut Supports Expansion, Calls for a Rivalry

Former Kings manager and part-owner Andrew Bogut has long been a vocal supporter of a second Sydney NBL team. Speaking on NBL Now, he expressed his support for an additional franchise, stating:

“If it’s a genuine team, we welcome it. We want another team in Sydney, we want a rivalry, and we want to bring back the Sydney versus West Sydney days.”

However, due to previous lockout rules implemented under the Kings’ management, any new Sydney team cannot enter the league until 2026.

Gold Coast and Other Expansion Bids Face Delays

While Sydney remains the strongest expansion candidate, Gold Coast has struggled to finalize a bid. Last year, the NBL Blitz revealed that the window for a new Gold Coast team entering in 2026 had closed, and four months later, no agreement has been reached.

“We would have loved to have reached an agreement with the Gold Coast at this point, but we haven’t,” said NBL CEO David Stevenson. “But they’re still engaged, and we’re still engaged. Ultimately, it’s got to be something that’s a win-win.”

Gold Coast has two potential venue options:

• A new 10,000-seat arena in Southport
• A proposed upgrade to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, which could expand its capacity to 10,000-12,000 seats

The Gold Coast bid is contingent on securing 50% government funding for a new stadium in Southport’s Carey Park, though Broadbeach remains a backup option. While the council has strongly supported the proposal, the bid remains uncertain without state government financial support.

Elsewhere, Darwin’s bid has stalled due to a change in government and financial struggles faced by the Darwin Salties. Canberra also continues to be floated as an option, though it, too, faces hurdles in meeting the league’s requirements.

Venue Availability Remains the Key Challenge

One of the biggest barriers to NBL expansion remains finding suitable venues, something David Stevenson has repeatedly emphasized.

“The number one issue in almost all of our expansion conversations is venues,” he explained. “So we’re now at a size and point that we can’t and don’t want to play in 3,000-4,000 seat venues. We want to look at bigger venues.”

Gold Coast has been actively exploring venue options, and Canberra remains in the conversation, but Sydney presents a unique challenge due to its lack of suitable downtown arenas.

“That’s our biggest challenge, and that’s what takes the time,” Stevenson added.