25
Aug
CODE Sports
'Call us': WNBL ready to steal Super Netball expansion project
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Justin Nelson Chief WNBL Operations Officer and Basketball Icon Lauren Jackson Chief Strategy & Basketball Partnerships Officer. Photo: WNBL
Super Netball’s expansion freeze has handed the WNBL a chance to plant its flag in a key market
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The WNBL want to expand into Newcastle and have plans to sneak under the guard of cash-strapped Super Netball who have told Wests Group they must wait to get a licence, writes Matt Logue from CODE Sports.
The prospect of a new women’s professional sporting team in Newcastle has increased after the NSW State Government injected $14 million into the planning stage for a state-of-the-art 12,000 seat indoor facility.
The Wests Group – who own the NRL and NRLW Knights – last year made an expression of interest for a new Super Netball franchise.
Wests’ bid has since hit a snag after Netball Australia put Super Netball’s planned expansion on hold until 2028 at the earliest, delaying potential new team entry.
This could open the door for the WNBL to swoop – with its new Chief Operating Officer Justin Nelson keen to speak to the Wests Group about potential expansion.
“I would strongly encourage the people behind the growth of basketball and the business of sport in Newcastle to come and have a chat with us,” Nelson told CODE Sports.
“We would welcome the opportunity to have a chat with them.
“It (Newcastle) is a wonderful part of the country and they are incredibly passionate sports fans. They would naturally build a strong rivalry with the Big Smoke – so to speak – so I think the opportunity is there.
“We’ve seen a lot of great basketballers come from Newcastle over the years.
“Is there a future of a WNBL side in Newcastle – I would say yes because we need to continue to explore every opportunity for the league to be in the hearts and minds of as any people in Australia.”
Momentum is also building for an NBL franchise returning to Newcastle in the future.
For the full story on CODE Sports Basketball, click here.
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