\u201cBoth are ambassadors and having formed a partnership for a new Australian franchise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Executive Director, NBL Group, Larry Kestleman, privately met with councillors this week around a future team and what it would take to secure the 11th licence in the league.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it happens in this round or the next round, I won\u2019t stop until there\u2019s a team here on the Gold Coast,\u201d Kestelman said earlier in the week<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Gold Coast remains the largest city in Australia without a team, with Kestelman outlining how basketball is \u201cabsolutely booming\u201d in the region.<\/p>\n \u201cBasketball Queensland figures show participation rising more than nine per cent year on year for the past four successive years,\u201d the Gold Coast Bulletin also reported.<\/p>\n \u201cMr Kestelman has set a timeline of 30 to 60 days on a decision on expansion.<\/p>\n \u201cA Coast team could play at Carrara or the Convention as early as next year.\u201d<\/p>\n In recent years, the Gold Coast has hosted the first-ever Ignite Cup Final and numerous editions of the competition’s pre-season tournaments, the NBL Blitz.<\/p>\n