JackJumpers "perfect" expansion model: Stevenson

NBL CEO David Stevenson has revealed the league is in discussion with “probably a dozen” different teams in regards to upcoming NBL expansion.

Following league owner Larry Kestelman’s announcement of his desire to bring more teams into the competition, interest in entering the NBL has reached an all-time high.

The Tasmania JackJumpers were added to the NBL just two seasons ago and already have a Championship Series appearance and two top four finishes to their name, and Stevenson believes they are the benchmark when deciding when, where and how to incorporate new teams into the league.

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“We’re in probably a dozen different conversations with cities both across Australia and New Zealand, but also internationally,” Stevenson told SEN.

“It’s one of the reasons we’re taking the Blitz to the Gold Coast – there’s huge participation and growth there. You think about a 700,000-person population, so there’s some opportunity there.

“There are other cities that don’t have a team, you think about Darwin, Canberra, and then there’s cities that already have a team and want to add another one in, so the obvious one is Sydney down the track.

“I think one of the things with expansion is you have to make sure that you have a reasonable chance of being successful. The three things we always talk about is great fan support, strong commercial partnerships, and a government who’s willing to invest – particularly in facilities.

“The JackJumpers have been the perfect model for that.”

So successful has Tasmania’s introduction to the competition been that the club is exploring options for a bigger stadium in which to host its home games.

Their current home – MyState Bank Arena – holds a capacity of almost 5000 spectators and was sold out for each of the club’s home games last season.

The JackJumpers also have a waiting list for membership. 

Stevenson says the NBL is willing to work hand-in-hand with the state government in order to find the club a larger home stadium to meet demand.

“Part of what we want to be realistic about is we’re going to play a lot of games here, but you’ve got to build other content besides just the JackJumpers’ games,” he said.

“We’d like to work in partnership with the government and the promotors of, yes, a bigger stadium that helps us – but how does that work with other content and, frankly, drive the economy in Tasmania?”

The JackJumpers’ first game of the NBL24 season is set for Friday, September 29 against the Perth Wildcats.