The objective is to get the Brisbane Bullets back into the National Basketball League for the 2011-12 season. And club legend, Leroy Loggins is the man driving the bid.
A founding member of the NBL, the Bullets stood the test of 29 years before collapsing under the disaster that was then-owner Eddy Groves’ financial difficulties. Basketball in Brisbane has the history and supporter base to theoretically be once again a force in the NBL, but can Leapin’ Leroy lead them back into the competition?
The answer to that will depend upon the financial backing that he can attract. Wednesday night’s public meeting pulled together a “team of 10” backers for the franchise, which surely pleases NBL top dog Larry Sengstock, who has publicly stated that a team returning to BrisVegas would be a positive for the league.
Still, Sengstock is conservative in his estimates:
“Their budget to kick off their team would be in excess of $20 million, I would think.
“That’s massive. Try doing that in a state that is not a rugby state.
“But we’re standing here trying to kick off a basketball team that’s been here for 30 years and already has a massive base.
“To run a basketball team if you run it properly, will cost you in low $2 million to $3 million.
“We’re not talking massive money which is why we’ve been able to run successful teams in some of our regional centres.”
Perhaps Loggins should get in touch with Mat Campbell, who successfully breathed life into a struggling Wollongong Hawks franchise, another league stalwart, that continues successfully into the 2010-11 season (due to start October 15).
