In another exciting development for the New Zealand National Basketball League, the Franklin Bulls have been granted provisional/conditional entry into the Sal’s NBL in season 2021 with final requirements to be in place by no later than July 31, 2020.
The league’s newest franchise will be based in one of South Auckland’s fastest growing regions, stretching down to Pukekohe and representing a passionate basketball community.
The Bulls will have a few final hurdles to jump in bringing the new franchise to life, but according to NBL General Manager Justin Nelson the future in the league’s newest region looks “very exciting.”
“The Franklin Bulls presented a very professional bid to represent a dynamic and quickly growing area of New Zealand, the southern corridor stretching down to Pukekohe is filled with passionate basketball fans and a growing participation base. We are very much looking forward to seeing the Bulls represent their proud community,” said Nelson.
“They do have a handful of significant things to achieve before stepping on court, but we know they will work hard to achieve these in time for the 2021 season.”
The news of the Bulls’ admission to the league in 2021 comes on the back of the Otago Nuggets getting the green light to enter in 2020 and Nelson pointed to the NBL’s 2023 Growth Strategy as the being the launch pad for all the positive moves the league is making.
“When the NBL board rubber-stamped a five-year strategy back in February it was the starting point for the direction we are now heading in, and pleasingly the Franklin Bulls are another positive step along that path,” said Nelson, adding “Basketball is no longer New Zealand’s sleeping giant, it is fully awake and rising, player numbers are increasing rapidly, new regions are booming and we are seeing great partnerships being formed with the likes of Sal’s, SKY Sports, Stuff and other soon to be announced commercial partners.”
In hearing the news of their admission to the league in 2021, Franklin Bulls bid leader Jamie Reddish said, "We still have a lot of work to do as the requests are significant. But we are looking forward to achieving all of the standards being set by the NBL and bringing the Bulls to life in 2021.
“We have an exciting, passionate community ready to get behind the Bulls and this marks yet another positive step forward for basketball in Franklin."
With the Formal Bid Process now completed, all focus for the Sal’s NBL will now turn to next week’s Final 4 in Christchurch where the Wellington Saints, Canterbury Rams, Hawke’s Bay Hawks and Southland Sharks will converge to determine this year’s champion team. Tickets are available from just $12 at Ticketek.co.nz
For any further comment on this media release please contact Justin Nelson on 027 202 0070.
