NBL's return to Gold Coast: Fans have their say

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The NBL expansion train seems full steam ahead and the next stop is the Gold Coast.

That seems the most likely destination following a report from CODE Sports reporter Paul Weston earlier this month after NBL boss Larry Kestelman had a closed presentation to Gold Coast City Councillors, where he was upbeat about their response.

"Whether it happens in this round or the next round, I won’t stop until there’s a team here on the Gold Coast," Kestelman told CODE Sports.

Following that report, former Gold Coast Blaze guard Jason Cadee and Cut to the Jase co-host Brayden Heslehurst debated their opinions on whether the league should expand to Queensland's glitter strip.

"This you can't deny, Brayden. When you go and you look at Carrara on a weekend or you go to the Seahawks at North Gold Coast or you go to Coomera, or you go to Logan, and then you go down towards Coffs (Harbour) - that whole belt is crying out for a team to follow," Cadee, who believes the next team should be on the Gold Coast, said on Cut to the Jase.

"Because if we're being honest, they don't follow the Bullets.

"I think there's room now because I think the Brisbane Bullets have hurt themselves, as we all know, in the last four to five years, where they don't own Brisbane.

"I just believe now is the opportunity. I think if the council's behind it, what killed the Gold Coast last time was the Convention Centre was really, really expensive and it was (a time that was) one of the lowlights in the NBL in the last 40 years, was that period between having no Sydney Kings team.

"If you're judging it based on that period, the NBL as a whole was a mess.

"I don't think there's a better place in Australia right now to expand."

Heslehurst disagreed, citing the city's struggle in recent decades to have successful professional sporting teams, stretching from AFL to rugby league, as well as the Blaze.

Following the episode on the basketball.com.au podcast, we put a post on our Instagram page asking fans for their opinion and here's what they had to say.

Buzzcityhoopsqld: "They dont have the stadium to support the large crowds needed to fund it, and when they had the blaze there, even at that small size, it was over half empty. Brisbane and Cairns both sat at the bottom of the ladder every season, doesn’t really support the notion that GC would magically fill the seats and be Successful. As Brayden said - if your team doesn’t win , the QLD fans aren’t gonna show up. I think you have to go elsewhere first, and the other QLD teams need to show that they can win, and at least make their playoffs, before the NBL risks another failed QLD franchise. It will impact the Bullets too from a fan base and $$ perspective. Emotionally it would be great, but there is no evidence commercially to suggest its a good idea in the next 2-3 years at least."

Dave369r: "Nope - failed location agree with anyone suggesting Canberra Cannons - West Adelaide Bearcats - West Sydney Razorbacks even - Frankston Bears - Fremantle against the Perth side - what happend to the idea for Darwin??"

Marshallca72: "We go back when Blaze came in they GC bball had 4 sort of courts (no offence old timers ) Fast forward to 26 GC plays out of leisure centre that has 15 crts and the Nth GC Seahawks use another 8 and both are full Times have changed GC is not a transit location."

Cozzajames34: "No, it's failed 3x there already. Even with Melo input as an owner, it needs a lot of upgrades and connections back to the nbl1 team to be effective. I think Canberra/Geelong/Townsville are miles in front of those issues and would be safer options for the NBL league and the owners board. Gold Coast could come in one day, but as the 15th team, not the next one. They need time to get things in place."

Mick_knight: "I want a GC team back! Went to so many blaze games and would love to go with my kids now."

Whitebencanjump: "Easy sell to investors but too many failed clubs. I do think they can return one day but a few safer options ahead of them."

While there were some fans positive about an expansion team at the Gold Coast, majority of comments were against. Let's see if the NBL can convince fans otherwise.