The reigning NBL Champion South Dragons are no more.
Here is a selection of the most significant parts and comments of the email sent out to South Dragons members this evening by owner Mark Cowan.
Dear Members,
It is with heavy heart that I sit and write this to you, our loyal members and fans. Today is truly a sad day for myself, club co-owner Raphael Geminder, and for the South Dragons organisation.
I know there has been plenty of speculation in the media about why we chose not to
submit a license for the 2009/2010 NBL season. I’d like to take a minute of your time to explain why we have chosen not to continue. When we started the South Dragons in 2006, we were dedicated to bringing a true element of professionalism to Australian basketball. We wanted to put on the best game night show in the league. We did that. We wanted to have a first class operation. We did that too. And we wanted to win. That took a little longer than we thought, but eventually
resulted in last year’s NBL championship.
But let’s not kid ourselves, despite all of this, the NBL is a mess. In the last two years, teams in Brisbane and Sydney have collapsed. Singapore pulled out of the league. Cairns and the Sydney Spirit had major financial crises and were bailed out using funds that clubs had put aside for other purposes. Fox Sports severely cut its telecasts and mainstream media interest has waned.
Crowds fall every year.
Basketball Australia and the NBL owners decided something had to be done, so we handed in our licenses on the condition that a reform process would be undertaken. We
expected and believed that BA had a mandate for reform and that it would deliver the
following changes:
- Teams in each capital city of Australia plus a NZ team
- A proper television deal (ideally with a free-to-air component on One HD)
- A naming rights sponsor for the league
- A review of the number of games in a season, so we have fan friendly schedules
- A marketing plan for the newNBL, with advertising for our product and game dates
- An adequate marketing budget for the NBL
- A plan and vision for growing attendances at games and delivering a sustainable
business model to clubs
None of these things have yet been delivered.
Itʼs a tragedy that after being given the hope of reform, which promised so much, we instead have been delivered an environment in which we believe clubs will still fall over, where the competition is going backwards, where many good Australian players will choose to go overseas (if not this year, then next), where we will no longer have quality imports and an environment where attendances will continue to fall and corporate sponsorship will go backwards.
Two other sports - netball and soccer - have in recent times, successfully undergone a reform process. Both made fundamental changes and both have improved their situations.
We made a stand at the time when we found out that reform was a non-event and that
further progress was unlikely. We suggested to BA that real reform was still needed and that further time was needed to plan for it. We supported this view by offering to the BA Board new high profile Board members and we would even consider sponsorship of the League in a truly reformed newNBL. We made this offer twice verbally and twice in writing. We hoped that BA would accept our offer of help, take the decision to sit out a season and use that time to properly plan reform. They did not.
When we took our position that more time was needed, we also believed other clubs would do likewise. In fact two clubs apart from the Melbourne Tigers told us they would support us. Unfortunately these clubs and the Tigers changed their view and submitted for new licenses.
In a cruel twist of fate, when we took the decision to sit out a season, we truly believed we were supporting a much-needed reform and that the Dragons would be there in a newly revamped league, when what we were really doing was signing the execution order for the club. We feel it is unlikely that we will be back in the future as it would be really difficult to start up again after letting all the brilliant people involved in the Dragons go their own ways, and would not even think about it unless true reform occurs.
The Dragons License has a proud history. It was the same license that was represented by many great clubs including the Magic, Giants, Saints and Spectres to name a few. In its time it has won five NBL championships - more than any other license. I would like to thank Brian and our entire coaching staff, our office staff, our volunteers, and of course the playing group for the wonderful memories and for winning a championship in just our third year. I would like to thank our past staff for all they contributed.
Basketball is a great sport and is thriving at the grass roots level in this country. Letʼs look forward to the time when true reform eventually occurs as it inevitably will, and then this league can take its rightful place in the Australian sporting landscape.
Letʼs all hope we donʼt have to wait too long.
Kind regards
Mark Cowan
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