Travel costs are high, our population base is low, pay for our athletes must walk the tightrope between the cost of retaining talent and the cost of living. <\/p>\n
As a result, nearly all codes aim for sustainability over profit. <\/p>\n
In the face of these challenges, you see various models deployed.<\/p>\n
In women\u2019s sport, the Wellington Phoenix<\/a> and New Zealand Warriors<\/a> are the sole professional New Zealand teams playing in Australian leagues. <\/p>\n With this model, there\u2019s one anchor for aspiring athletes and the local audience to tether themselves to. <\/p>\n All feeders to these sides are amateur and so you do get more of our talent playing across the competition. <\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the worst-case scenario for our New Zealand coaches. At least they are comparing their prospects\u2019 abilities within the same league.<\/p>\n Alternatively, you look at rugby union who balance their books by running the incredibly short Super Rugby Aupiki season<\/a> with one less team than their male counterparts. <\/p>\n Limiting the player roster and the length of their competition keeps their costs as low as possible while attempting to grow their product. <\/p>\n Expansion will come only when the financial equation, driven by audience, broadcast and sponsorship, starts to add up.<\/p>\n Lastly, you could let go of a little more control and welcome a commercial partnership in every sense of that word.<\/p>\n The Tauihi basketball league has been carried by the agreement between Basketball New Zealand<\/a> and Sky since its inception. <\/p>\n Not just broadcast rights holders but commercial and management too.<\/p>\n This contract is part of the reason why the league shifted from a winter to spring tip-off in the third season, filling a gap in domestic programming and the league\u2019s coffers.<\/p>\n There are several alternate realities facing Netball New Zealand as they decide their domestic fate.<\/a> <\/p>\n Their hesitancy no doubt fuelled by the last big move, the split from the Australians, having put them on the path that led them here. <\/p>\n That uncertainty, though, is accelerating their issues. <\/p>\n Money likes confidence, money likes winners.<\/p>\n The Silver Ferns won in Glasgow and the ANZ Premiership won with audience numbers.<\/a> But the gloom permeating from the boardroom is the rain on any victory parade.<\/p>\n The confetti has been swept away, the medals hung above the mantel and our netballers are out looking for work. <\/p>\n With domestic contracts on hold at three franchises, players are no longer jumping through hoops to play overseas, but being encouraged to take any offer. <\/p>\n Likely then that our Commonwealth Games winners will soon depart to secure their livelihoods. <\/p>\n Without these stars on show, the value of the product is lessened, further digging the financial hole Netball New Zealand find themselves in.<\/p>\n Rather than wait for the perfect choice to appear then, it may be a case of simply making one. <\/p>\n Sponsorship and broadcast deals cannot be signed, talent cannot be retained and fans cannot be engaged in this vacuum. <\/p>\n The joy in Glasgow<\/a> was made all the sweeter because of the struggle. <\/p>\n No one was under any illusions that things are easy, but despite everything our netballers came out on top<\/a>. <\/p>\n Netball New Zealand needs to make the play and have the same faith as their athletes, that it will all come good in the end.<\/p>\n