AusLeisure

NBL clubs South East Melbourne Phoenix and the New Zealand Breakers will temporarily move to Hobart following a fresh COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.

With the League’s plans for a 36-game hub in Melbourne from 20th February now in jeopardy, officials are having to make hasty arrangements ahead of the NBL's upcoming season.

With new COVID-19 outbreaks having occurred in Melbourne, the South East Melbourne Phoenix and New Zealand Breakers are being moved out of the city to Hobart.

The Breakers had already relocated across the Tasman Sea o Victoria in preparation for the season, they will now shift to Hobart to ensure they do not get stranded in the event of another lockdown in Victoria.

Melbourne United is currently in Cairns ahead of two pre-season games against the Taipans.

Sydney Kings and Illawarra Hawks recently moved to the NSW border city of Albury, but they too will be moved due to the worsening situation.

The NBL is yet to announce where those two teams will be shifted.

The Kings are due to play the Perth Wildcats in a grand final rematch in Perth on 15th January.

However, with Western Australia shutting its borders to both NSW and Victoria, that game is almost certain to be rescheduled, along with a host of others.

NBL Commissioner, Jeremy Loeliger stated “given the current situation in Melbourne we have decided it's prudent for both clubs (the Phoenix and Breakers) to relocate to Hobart and they will be accommodated and train there under strict COVID protocols.

"This will give us time to assess and work through the next steps required as we prepare for the forthcoming NBL season.

"We hope the current restrictions and resulting border closures will be eased as quickly as possible but we will need to stay flexible in our approach and we will continue to be guided by the advice of the relevant state health authorities."

The NBL season is scheduled to begin with the Taipans hosting the Adelaide 36ers in Cairns on 9th January.

Related Articles

23rd December 2020 - Melbourne Park’s three main venues to operate with at least 25% capacity for Australian Open

21st December 2020 - NBL announces Melbourne hub for condensed 36-game competition

27th November 2020 - Wellington Phoenix Football Club moves to Wollongong for 2020/21 A-League season

10th November 2020 - Tasmanian Government’s purchase of the Derwent Entertainment Centre advances JackJumpers NBL debut

19th October 2020 - Basketball Australia advises of intention to join redress scheme

1st October 2020 - Global sports survey shows impact of COVID-19 pandemic

16th September 2020 - NBL delays season start until 2021

1st September 2020 - Indigenous Affairs Advisor Leanne Brooke to Co-Chair NBL’s Reconciliation working group

27th August 2020 - Melissa King named as Chief Executive of FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022

19th August 2020 - NBL creates Return to Competition Taskforce to prepare for 2020/21 season

13th July 2020 - Stats Perform extends data and betting video rights deal with Australia’s NBL

2nd July 2020 - Tasmania secures new NBL team for 2021/22 season

17th June 2020 - NBL awards Illawarra Hawks licence to an international syndicate

20th May 2020 - Global sports sponsorship market predicted to fall by 37% this year

1st May 2020 - Coronavirus has multi-billion dollar negative impact on global sport

20th April 2020 - NBL cuts pay and makes roster changes for 2020/21 season

26th March 2020 - Total Sport and Entertainment acquire ownership of NSW sole WNBL franchise

20th March 2020 - NBL names Perth Wildcats as champions after Coronavirus truncates finals series

11th July 2019 - Former NBA stars purchase ownership stake in South East Melbourne Phoenix

20th January 2016 - New Zealand Breakers announce new coach and Chief Executive

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.