Blitzing it in Brisbane - an idea with a bullet
TweetIT’S UNOFFICIAL. The NBL Board met today and the Preseason Blitz tournament for the Loggins-Bruton Trophy will be played in Brisbane from September 19-21.
Expect a grand bangs-and-whistles announcement sometime in the not-too-distant-future as the league brings all of its teams back into Brisbane to help gauge the level of interest in re-starting a local franchise.
I believe the Blitz will start at Auchenflower, which makes perfect sense because it will be a Friday and not only should the basketball community support it but there could be a nice overflow from the city.
Provided they know it is on – big publicity campaign necessary.
Whether the series shifts to a new venue on Saturday or not is likely still up in the air, Logan out of the equation due to the schools tournament there that weekend.
Sunday’s final round of the Blitz may yet be staged out at Chandler, again to gauge local interest.
Apparently it is a growth region with many new young families out that way.
The NBL could see how well they might support basketball.
Provided they know it is on – big publicity campaign necessary.
Then again, running the Blitz at one venue – Auchenflower – makes sense too.
National tournaments (e.g. Australian Under-20 Championships) can spend a whole week at one venue without there being any boredom factor.
Playing in multiple venues – though only in one on any given day – also has its upside.
We can leave that to wiser heads to determine, the whole idea of playing the Blitz in Brisbane – where Leroy Loggins and Cal Bruton were NBL Championship teammates in 1985 – one to see if the public will come out and support basketball.
There WILL be a Brisbane team in the 2015-16 NBL season.
That has already been forcefully established by the league.
Now let’s see if people want to commit again to watching elite basketball in the Queensland capital.
My fingers are crossed they will.
Provided they know it is on – big publicity campaign necessary.
MAYBE someone could light a rocket under PERFORM – there’s two words you ALWAYS get in the same sentence when referring to the NBL’s live-streaming TV service; under perform – and they could offer to televise the Blitz free of charge.
Stay with me here.
They offer it as a bonus (for the frustrations of their NBL.TV production) - The Blitz for free for people who take up the earlybird NBL.TV subscriptions.
Won’t happen of course because PERFORM doesn’t give a flying frapdoodle.
Thank goodness this is the last year of that contract for the NBL.
And for those who have asked on social media, yes, the AND1 clothing sponsorship is up this season.
So if you want to have your sporting goods/uniform firm jump into the equation, get to it!
TOMORROW: Anzac Day, 1992 – the Kings versus the 36ers. A Flashback to remember.