Bring Back OUR South Dragons- JOIN the MOVEMENT!!

[bluesdragons]

It worked for Daryl Somers and Hey Hey It’s Saturday, so why not a professional basketball franchise?

A “Bring Back OUR South Dragons” Facebook page has now been set up, providing an outlet for fans to show their support for the return of the 2008/09 NBL Champions.

This is the first of hopefully many steps in showing Basketball Australia, Basketball Victoria and prospective stakeholders that there is strong demand for a second Melbourne franchise, preferably the Dragons.

The initial target for this exercise is 1000 members, and it has already gained the backing of one of the best Dragons players in Donta Smith!!

So spread the word to fellow social networkers and join the Bring Back OUR South Dragons group now @ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=119477681571

Hey guys if you were a Dragons fan or just want to support the cause join this group and post it on your page. Remeber to keep the fire burning.

 

[Gilbert_Hodge]

The NBL need to fix their internal governance structures before they can think about bringing back or creating new teams.

 

[bluesdragons]

I agree with that Gibert Hodge, however they seem to be making progress with that, and it is essential that we do not alienate even more people by making the second Melbourne team, which is a certainty to be re-introduced, a totally new name again. The Dragons had a good floowing, won a championship, had huge corporate support and put on a great show for the fans, and gave the fans great access to the club and its players. It is important that three years of hard work is not thrown away along with sponsorships and supporters.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

this is ow the NBL should be

2 Teams Melbourne (Tigers and Dragons)
1 Team in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth.

2 teams left to come from these possible regions: Nth QLD, GC, Central Coast, Albury/Wodonga (spelling)


Is how it should be structured. a 14 round home and away season. top four play off series. 1 v 2 "major" semi-final series, winner hosts 4-3 finals
3 v 4 "minor" semi, winner travels for prelim series.


would have been the perfect set up, instead they rushed it. The NBL will fail within 2 yrs (even though it already has)

 

[Gilbert_Hodge]

What would you guys say caused to fall of the NBL? Moving from Summer to Winter? Lack of free-to-air TV coverage?

 

[Mitchell Madness]

What would you guys say caused to fall of the NBL? Moving from Summer to Winter? Lack of free-to-air TV coverage?

multiple things, including those you mentioned. the biggest thing though, is they went the way of the US, with owners selling up all over the shop etc.

Whilst there were always owners, when i first started following the NBL, it had a very club feel, as opposed to a business something fairly unique to Australia. AFL is heading the same way though

 

[bluesdragons]

What would you guys say caused to fall of the NBL? Moving from Summer to Winter? Lack of free-to-air TV coverage?

The NBL, has made a lot of bad decisions in the past that has lead to its ultimate demise. One of the key one is lack of advertising. In regards to the Dragons the opening game of the season we aveage around 3,500 and towards the end of the season the crowd grow, sometimes averaging around 6,000. This is because advertising of the league, games and the season starting is non-existant. This means that only the hardcore fans know when the season starts and when the games are on. This is in direct contrast to the AFL, NRL, A-league etc.

The tv rights are another huge factors. Free to Air is so important and it is really sad to think that basketball dominated tv ratings and Friday night television viewing. This meant that people were constantly exposed to the game and made it somewhat of an institution. It also importantly helps sponsors of both the league and players want top get involved with the sport, something that has been lacking in recent times. If they can get the game on onehd, with must be a priority, the game can blossum. We can see the benefits by looking at the way netball has grown.

The ownership model has also not been consistent. The game really has been that bad with the product actually being fantatstic, just the owners were crap. The Sydney Kings and Brisbane Bullets all failed because of bad owners not lack of support. I also fail to unsderstand the stadium deals. Other sporting clubs can make money on games when the stadium is less than half full, but in the NBL the stadium can be 60% full and they still lose a lot of money.

There are other big factors but i think these are the main, and of course the people now hold the NBL as a joke in the sporting landscape.

 

[carntheroos4eva]

Don't know why you are advertising your fb page here champ but look if what I am about to say is going to help you out here then maybe you should get in contact with the club.

I know that there is a new competition that the guys didn't want to join up with. Maybe you should try and contact the club that you love the best and take it up with them.

 

[bluesdragons]

Im doing so as many basketball supporters are football supporters alos. However, I know the reasons but the point of it is when the second team is introduced back into Melbourne we want it to hold the same name.

On a positive not the NBL scored a 3 year major sponsor im oamps today

 

[bluesdragons]

The push for the return of the South Dragons has taken another step in the right direction with the supporters now having an official site for the cause:

freewebs(dot)com/southdragons

have a look and tell me what you think.

 

[bluesdragons]

The Save Our Dragons campaign will be hitting the radio airwaves tomorrow night when group founder Hayden Ostrom Brown joins In the Paint host, Brett Phillips, on 1116 SEN.

Hayden will be live on the show between 8.30pm and 9pm, spreading the word about returning the South Dragons to the National Basketball League.

In the Paint is a new 2-hour program devoted entirely to hoops, and can be heard every Sunday night from 7pm on 1116am in Melbourne, or via www.sportsentral.com or www.sen.com.au .

Last week’s inaugural program included special guests Larry Sengstock, Mark Worthington, Michele Timms, Tom Maher and Wayne Bird.

Tune in again this week to hear about Keeping the Fire Burning! For more on the Save Our Dragons campaign, hit www.saveourdragons.com.

 

[bigdog54]

Dont know how/why I stumbled across this on BF!!???
Anyway was/is a big dragons fan and just signed up. Any other footy fans that follow NBL to pass the time til round one get on board

 

[Gilbert_Hodge]

I couldn't help but think that an integrated governance structure in combination with Basketball Australia would benefit both stakeholders.