Of the major American sports, I’d say that the NFL is the most popular here in Australia based on my own experience (with the NBA running a not-too-distant second)- if I were to go back 15-20 years I’d have had it the other way around though, such has been the growth in popularity in that time.
The Super Bowl in particular always seems to generate a bit of interest and office cooler chat even among those who aren’t overly sports mad.
I will expect tickets to sell out very quickly for next year’s game- especially being the first time.
Speaking of the NBA, reports this morning said that a deal is being finalised to have an NBA side playing exhibition matches against an NBL team in Melbourne.
only about 3 years ago the NFL hired an Australian head of marketing. I used to work with her at another role and Shes been killing it. She sorted out the eagles draft party down at Burleigh where Jordan Milata read out the eagles first round draft pick whilst standing on the beach live to the USA, to there quite good tik tok channel and i know she had had quite a few late ngihts in the lead up to this annoucement.
The NFL have seen the amount of punters from australia coming though the college system (in particular ex AFL players) and hope to capitalize on that
Well we know its either going to be United or the Phoenix.
Which shows you just how much the NBL loves Victoria, even though the best run team and venue in the league is in NSW, and the league itself was founded in NSW.
Kestelman may have saved the NBL, but he is like V’Landys. Poor at hiding his biases.
I’m talking right now (2nd behind the Swans actually). Yes, I am very well aware of what that arsehole who owned Firepower did, there is an excellent article on Code Sports describing chapter and verse about it. And as for the Razorbacks/Spirit, yep, they were not longed for this earth judging by their start playing at Liverpool.
Also, since we’re talking about history - Ken Cole smoking pot and getting sacked and getting reinstated, BASA’s debt, and having Eddy Groves coming anywhere near the team (well, the venue anyway). Sorry…had to be said.
And yes, this is coming rom an old Falcons and Pirates fan who saw them die in the arse too. And the Knights are tumbling down the same plug hole too. Newcastle are lucky to have sports teams in any national league given the space cadets running the joint.
Shit that takes me back…moving the team from Canberra to Newcastle was one thing. Moving them from Newcastle to Singapore was another.
Also, I know Kings are fucked - Adams getting ejected wasn’t something we needed, but out form coming into the “play in” (just call it the fucking play-offs) is atrocious. If we make it into the “play-offs” it’ll be a miracle. If we win the whole thing it’ll be the end times as we know it, look for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and hoard the dunny paper.
For those who care/follow NBL/want to see me lose my shit, here’s the NBL play in matches (or for people who don’t subscribe to this “play-in” bullshit - round 1)
3 x 4 - Perth Wildcats vs SE Melbourne Phoenix, Tuesday 11th Feb at Perth High Performance Centre (suck shit, Wildcats got kicked out of Perth Arena for Kyile!)
5 v 6 - Sydney Kings vs Adelaide 36ers, Thursday 13th Feb at Qudos Bank Arena
Loser of 3 vs 4 players winner of 5 vs 6. - Winner of this game plays the Illawarra Hawks in the “play-offs” “proper”.
Winner of 3 vs 4 plays Melbourne “United” (you’re the fucking Tigers, once was, always will be - fuck off with naming yourself after half of the English football pyramid)
Loser of 5 vs 6 can get on the piss - they’re out.
The sooner more teams get into the league, the quicker we can return to a top 8 and piss of the play-in nonsense. Don’t copy the NBA. You’re not the NBA. Also, bring back the 12 minute quarters. And the Newcastle Falcons. And make the Wildcats play in hi-vis in honour what really powers their state (you can borrow the Knights idea for this) and with this picture on the front.
Sydney’s Jordan Mailata has become the first Australian to play in a Super Bowl win, as Philadelphia Eagles claimed their second Super Bowl title, their first since 2017. The Eagles dominated the first half on their way to beat Kansas City Chiefs 40-22, ending the Chiefs’ hopes of a historic three-peat. The Eagles also avenged their loss to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years ago.
Big difference…Kings was a merger between West Sydney Westars (was and still is Bankstown Bruins) and the Sydney Supersonics. And the Supersonics temselves were the Astronauts but merged with Easterb Suburbs.
Maybe for Heritage Round?
Tigers were rebranded without a merger. United is such a uninspiring name. Who are they uniting?
The hundreds of junior teams that have to play against the Melbourne Tigers junior club so wouldn’t have a bar of the NBL team of the same name (who had seperate owners for over 10 years at the time), maybe less now that SE Melbourne have representation again.
Having said that, can’t believe they couldn’t come up with a better name. Geelong United dropping the Supercats is even worse though.
