Gold Coast Rollers ready to make an NBL pitch

After the success the NBL1 North Gold Coast Rollers have seen this season, the Gold Coast is set to pitch for an NBL licence in 2024, joining the growing list of potential expansion options for the League.

The Rollers were an NBL team in the 1990’s but with their introduction to the NBL1 North, the team has created a new buzz in Queensland. 

The men’s team featuring NBL stars Jason Cadee and Tanner Krebs will feature in NBL1 North Grand Finals this weekend in the start of a three-game series on Friday at 7:30pm on NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here.

While the women’s team finished 12th, the team featured WNBL stars like Lauren Manfield, who was a bronze medallist in the 3x3 Commonwealth Games, as well as young star and Queensland state team representative Jade Peacock filling out the roster. 

“We’re in the best position now as the city grows, and with the Olympic Games coming up … we can really attack this now and get that NBL team over the line,” Rollers head of marketing and promotions Billy Cross said.

“The city’s ready for it – given what’s happening with population growth, we’re in the right stage to really pitch for this.”

Rollers star Jason Cadee said on Instagram that the atmosphere at the Rollers games is one of the best environments he's been in. 

"One of the best NBL1 (ABA as I’ve always called it) environments I’ve been involved in. The crowd was incredible and the boys followed," he said.

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A post shared by Jason Cadee (@jasoncadee5)

Despite two previous stints in the national league, as the “Cougars” and “Rollers” (1990 – 1996) and “Blaze” (2007 – 2012), City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the city was ready for a new licence.

“At a grassroots level, we have some of the highest junior participation … so the enthusiasm is there,” Tate told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“Historically, when we were a much smaller city, we did bite off more than we could chew (in the NBL).  

“A huge financial challenge was the cost of setting up the flooring and venue hire at Gold Coast Convention Centre (where the Blaze played home games) … It made it so prohibitive that even if we had 2000 people in the stands, we could still not break even, and therefore it wasn’t sustainable.

“I’m sure future owners could arrange a competitive rate at Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.”

The NBL is testing the appetite of the Darwin community during next month’s NBL Blitz, with tickets already selling fast.

“This is a really great test for everyone if we can come together and make it work,” the League’s chief operating officer Vince Crivelli said.

“What we need to test now is whether or not there’s an appetite from the consumer, the business community and the government to bring it all together."

Click here for the full story >> Gold Coast city powerbrokers preparing to pitch for an NBL licence by 2024

Feature image via: Trent Schwarz