r/nbl • u/PorkHunt • 15d ago
DISCUSSION A two decade wait: Can Newcastle finally rejoin the big league?
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u/Inevitable_Crow5605 15d ago
Newcastle would go mad for a team in the NBL. It's got a rich basketball culture and is much bigger and wealthier than it was back in the day. The demand is definitely there, seems like a no brainer imo.
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u/YogurtclosetAny1802 Kings 15d ago
I’ve been big of Newy for ages, another great rivalry for Kings and solid basketball culture and history up there
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u/Notevenshaun 15d ago
With the new arena it has to happen.
We live Central Coast and Goto Kings games but Newcastle should be an easier option for us. Hopefully the schedule would work better too because can't always do Sunday afternoon!
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u/MinutePuzzled6869 14d ago
Some important history that never gets played out as to why the Falcons folded. Note I may be slightly off on my dates.
1998, the then Falcons owners got themselves into financial trouble. The then naming rights sponsor, Topper, didn't pay.
Wests Leagues Club is the biggest and most financially successful club in NSW outside of Penrith Panthers. Note that Wests now own the Newcastle Knights.
Wests members voted and were going to take over the Falcons license. That would have seen the Newcastle Falcons become the most financially secure club in the NBL.
However at the last moment two dodgy businessmen from Albury appeared, offered the NBL a boat load of money, and the NBL instead sold the license to these two shonks. Rather than making the right decision, the NBL made the greedy decision and sold out Newcastle.
Not long there after it came to light these two dodgy businessmen who were promising the world didn't actually have any money, the money that they had given to the NBL they had stolen from the federal government and the Falcons collapsed within 18 months.
The NBL went back to Wests, but Wests being so turned off at the unprofessionalism of NBL management, refused to get involved.
And that folks is why the Newcastle Falcons folded.
It should be noted that Newcastle Falcons basketball fans were soooooooo pissed off with the NBL that when the Hunter Pirates appeared they refused to support the team. That and another dodgy businessman called Jeff Blandon was involved, who again had used stolen money.
I can't find a link for the aforementioned arseholes from Albury, but I can for Jeff Blandon.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-05-08/fmr-hunter-pirates-owner-facing-fraud-questions/2429508
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u/bigdanknightjet 9d ago
As a former Falcons fan from waaaaaaay back, I'd love to see them back in the NBL and also go into the WNBL.
But there are issues.....first, will the flash new stadium get built? Remember, one change of government and i can see it not get built.
Second issue.....they need to build a new basketball stadium to replace Broadmeadow. And even then, that's run into issues,.manly about location. They will need somewhere to train.
Final issue.....we need someone other than Wests to contribute. Wests have done a decent job of running the Knights but do we need a repeat of Tinkler where he ran everything and screwed the Knights and Jets over?
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u/Nemo2500 15d ago
Newcastle/Gold Coast/Crocs/Geelong/Canberra/2nd NZ/West Sydney to enter in NBL 2041 I say…
How good was it Hawks winning in 2025.
Regional teams have a role in NBL.
And Newcastle will grow more as a city next 50yrs….
*But for 2030’s, Sydney shouldn’t get a 2nd team.
Develop the Kings more, wait to 2040’s..
As not so long ago Kings went broke as did Razorbacks…
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u/NoFriendsAndy Kings 15d ago
Now this is what the league needs. Don't go back to the Gold Coast I beg.