G’day Rob, Ryan,
A wise Canadian once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”.
It’s always sunny on the picturesque shores of New South Wales, where Newcastle and basketball go together like Deadpool and Wolverine. We were a founding team in the National Basketball League (NBL); however, we’ve endured a lengthy 17 years without a professional team to carry on our rich basketball legacy.
As dedicated basketball fans, we stand united in expressing our unwavering desire and collective enthusiasm for the long overdue return of an NBL team to Newcastle. We hope to capture your imagination by presenting what we see as a tremendous opportunity to expand your burgeoning sports empire with a mythic quest to the land down under.
Our bold vision for the Newcastle franchise includes a men’s team returning to the NBL and, for the first time, a women’s team competing in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). With your innovative approach to sports investments, we can transform this vision of two teams, a city (and a pizza place), into a reality.
Basketball has experienced unprecedented popularity growth across Australia in recent years, becoming a recognised pathway for some of the world’s most talented young athletes on their journey to the NBA and WNBA. By investing in NBL/WNBL teams in Newcastle, you would be tapping into a thriving market, capturing the attention of the best players, the most enthusiastic fans and the biggest sponsors.
Together, we can usher in a new era of basketball excellence, showcasing incredible talent and athleticism from players of all genders. We aim to inspire young boys and girls across our community to dream big and pursue their passion for the game. By partnering with you, we can become a beacon of basketball brilliance in Australia, rivalling even the most storied franchises in the NBL.
Just as the entirety of Wrexham experienced the joy of promotion, imagine the excitement sweeping throughout Newcastle and the entire league at the prospect of your involvement with the chance to see us rise from the sidelines to resecure our spot in the NBL. The basketball community nationwide would be electrified, eagerly anticipating the magic only the Reynolds-McElhenney partnership can bring.
Wrexham’s inspirational path to reclaiming their place in the Football League exemplified patience and perseverance, backed by unwavering fan support. With basketball close to the heart of our community, we have passionately supported our local teams (the Newcastle Falcons and Maitland Mustangs) while holding onto the burning desire to see the Newcastle name return to the national basketball stage.
Ryan and Rob, with your indomitable spirit and dedication to excellence, you can be the catalyst to end this waiting game. Reviving professional basketball in Newcastle would fulfil the dreams of patient fans, adding another chapter of success to your remarkable sports ownership journey.
A unique opportunity awaits you in Newcastle. With its strategic location, passionate basketball community, and a city steeped in basketball history, Newcastle provides the perfect canvas for your next triumph. By joining forces with the fans and businesses of this vibrant city, you will not only enrich the sporting landscape but also make an indelible mark on Australian basketball.
- Community Pride: Newcastle and Wrexham share a proud working-class heritage, a deep sense of community, and a passionate devotion to their local sports teams. Fans in Newcastle are always ready to rally behind the teams representing their city. Your dedication to community involvement and your unique ability to engage fans on a personal level are qualities that align perfectly with our values.
- Good Company: Current and former NBA players are taking ownership stakes in NBL teams—but they all lack that real Hollywood touch that only “RR McReynolds” can bring. We can only imagine the influential names from across sports and entertainment that you could help assemble as part of an ownership group capable of establishing the best basketball franchise in the country.
- Transformational Potential: Newcastle boasts a vibrant and diverse population with an insatiable appetite for sports. We invite you to envision the transformative impact a Newcastle basketball franchise would have on our city. Bringing NBL/WNBL teams to Newcastle will ignite the local economy, create meaningful opportunities for community engagement and youth development, and inspire a new generation of athletes and fans, unleashing the full potential of basketball in this region.
- Strategic Location: Within the NBL/WNBL landscape, Newcastle offers a unique opportunity—enhancing the league’s reach and reigniting past rivalries. With teams based in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, a Newcastle franchise will serve as the perfect regional powerhouse, attracting fans from across the Hunter Valley and beyond who are eager to witness high-flying dunks and awe-inspiring three-pointers.
- Global Reach: The global recognition and influence you have brought to Wrexham AFC has significantly elevated its profile far beyond Wales. Your involvement in basketball in Newcastle would provide a major global boost to our local region and the entire league. With your star power, marketing prowess, and influential platforms, we can showcase the spirit of Australian basketball to the world, attracting international players, sponsors, and fans who will join us in celebrating the incredible sport we love, making Newcastle a household name in Australia and beyond.
- Embracing Heritage: Just as you have embraced the rich heritage and traditions of Wrexham, we invite you to immerse yourselves in the proud sporting history of Newcastle. As one of the founding teams of the NBL, Newcastle has a legacy worth honouring. You can become a part of that legacy by helping revive our franchise.
- A New Home: Newcastle has been pushing for a new indoor arena for several years, a venue with first-class modern facilities capable of hosting professional basketball, international touring artists, and large cultural events. Showcasing that there are potential owners interested in establishing teams here would undoubtedly help secure this vital infrastructure—a win for basketball, and more importantly, a win for the whole Newcastle region.
- Beyond Basketball: Renowned for its thriving creative industries, technological innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit, Newcastle provides an ideal collaborative environment that transcends the basketball court. Together, we can explore exciting partnerships that tap into the rich potential of the business landscape across the entire Hunter Valley.
Understanding that acquiring an NBL franchise requires careful contemplation and planning, we wholeheartedly commit to collaborating with you every step of the way. Our love for the game extends beyond the court, and we are determined to contribute to the franchise’s success through unwavering loyalty, fanatical support, and lively participation in community events.
Ryan and Rob, we urge you to seize this opportunity to conquer the Australian basketball scene with Newcastle as your launching pad to help shape the future of the NBL and WNBL. We would be thrilled to share more of our vision for the Newcastle franchise. Working together to harness the power of both men’s and women’s basketball to inspire and empower, creating a basketball legacy that will be remembered for generations.
We are here, and we are ready to give maximum effort.
Dean Robinson
Novocastrian Sports Group