1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:02,639 Speaker 1: Well in some pretty exciting news. 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 2: I think you'd have to say the world class National 3 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 2: Basketball League Blitz Tournament, it's kicking off in Darwin this week. 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 2: And joining me on the line to tell us a 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 2: little bit more is Tim Watsford, the CEO of NT 6 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 2: Major Events. Good morning to you. 7 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 3: Tim, Good morning Katie. 8 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: How are you very well? Mate? Would I say kicking off? 9 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,959 Speaker 1: I probably should have said bouncing off tomorrow, isn't it? 10 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 3: Well, tip off or something on those lines I think 11 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 3: would be more appropriate. 12 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 2: It would be it's very exciting. How many teams have 13 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 2: we got playing? 14 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, it is, I have to stay. It is really exciting. 15 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 3: When we kind of went out and discussed the MBA 16 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 3: early on around what this could look like, Osborne a 17 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 3: bit underprepared around what traction this actually is going to 18 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 3: bring to the town. Look, it's every team, it's ten teams, 19 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 3: and it's their full roster so to speak, including support 20 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 3: staff that are going to be up here from literally 21 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 3: today adelaide to doing a adelaide, doing a community game 22 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 3: in our spring today and yeah, tip off tomorrow. But look, 23 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 3: being going to speak to the town and to pick 24 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 3: for the sport. And I think I mentioned publicly a 25 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 3: lot that hopefully this paves a way for us, you know, 26 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 3: things cross getting a license down the train. 27 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, well that's I think what everybody's sort of hoping for. 28 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 2: So starting today or you've got the one of the 29 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 2: teams playing a game in Alice Springs today, that's pretty exciting. 30 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 2: I'm sure the people of Alice are pumped. 31 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, really exciting, and we wanted to try and really 32 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 3: broaden the scope of their imprint, their footprint on the territory, 33 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 3: and the thirty six is from Adelaide, you know, made 34 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 3: their way up to the center, So they're doing a 35 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 3: lot of stuff today and stick with around schools, community 36 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 3: groups to your point, open training sessions and in a 37 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 3: quasi game to be here later tonight. But then yeah, 38 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 3: then they're all they're all in train for tomorrow and 39 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 3: probably should state. We've just put the sold out sign 40 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 3: up for Saturday night as well out of it. So 41 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 3: tickets are moving really quick, and yeah, we've been unvoting 42 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 3: with their feet, which is awesome. 43 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 2: Hey, I mean when you talk about that level, like 44 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: that number of teams and that level of support staff, 45 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: how many people are we actually going to have here 46 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 2: as a result of the splits. 47 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 3: Look, the immediate imprint is between four and five hundred. 48 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 3: That's purely from players and support staff. Then you add 49 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 3: on families that will get a good understanding of who's 50 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 3: coming up with them later in the week, and then fans. Look, 51 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 3: I'm hoping this is a real little significant driver for 52 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 3: the territory. They're filling up those the hotel rooms, all 53 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 3: the meeting rooms and book We found out yesterday that 54 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 3: they're putting informed from the team rooms to recovery sessions 55 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 3: at a Morara center. Is using a variety of venues 56 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 3: out there as well. So look, Odd Hope and guesstimating 57 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 3: at this point, you know, it's two two and a 58 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 3: half thousand people that'll be floating around during the week 59 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 3: in support of the blitz and a good shot in 60 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 3: the arm for a time that's a shoulder period. 61 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 2: So yeah, the thing, Yeah, it really is. I mean 62 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 2: it's a great shot in the arm. And when you 63 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: talk about what that does for the economy, there's no 64 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 2: doubt that it will have a boost. 65 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 3: It will absolutely will. I think we've talked to um 66 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 3: doing the face around what events do and can bring 67 00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:00,080 Speaker 3: from an economic perspective with this one, as well, what 68 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 3: I probably didn't appreciate Katie when we went out to 69 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,399 Speaker 3: really start talking basketball is how much territories love basketball. 70 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 3: Look AFL and NRL and the big codes do you 71 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 3: get a lot of front page base, but there's an 72 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 3: underlying groundswell of support for the NBL right through everyone, 73 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 3: and it's quite overwhelming. So I think what we're going 74 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 3: to see next week is pride come out, community pride 75 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 3: really show us based so in conjunction with a great 76 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 3: shot economically, it's a really good thing for the town. 77 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 3: Hopefully it's it's really good thing for us as territory 78 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 3: and top end to truly enjoy sport on a truly 79 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 3: national level. 80 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 2: Absolutely, and like you said, people love their basketball. You know, 81 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 2: how close are we here to the possibility of actually 82 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 2: having our own team. 83 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 3: I don't want to jinx it, but I'll say that 84 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 3: we're working really, really hard behind the scenes. We've got support. 85 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 3: Chiefs come out before and said, you know, that wouldn't 86 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 3: be great to have an MBL team. So's the NBL. 87 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 3: They're looking really hard at their expansion program right across 88 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 3: country and into Southeast Asia. I'm saying quite quite proudly 89 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 3: that we pick a lot of boxes, you know, are 90 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 3: only four hours away from Southeast Asia, so we've can 91 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 3: really activate that Asian market where a territory that hasn't 92 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 3: been or has not ever had a professional sports team. 93 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 3: So we're kind of groundbreaking in the NBL's eyes here 94 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 3: to be the first, which is which is great, and 95 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 3: we've got the support, which is what kind of this 96 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 3: is a proof of concept. The coming week, we're hoping 97 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 3: everyone comes out and goes through their feet and say 98 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 3: this we want basketball and we show MBL that this 99 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 3: is something that we're genuine about. So look, I think 100 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 3: we're a chance to be quite frank and I hope 101 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 3: and I hope next week proves that, and you know, 102 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 3: we can have a chat in a couple of weeks 103 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 3: and say a bit more certainty around when something could 104 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 3: come our way. 105 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, jeez, it'd be absolutely amazing. It'd be wonderful. You know, 106 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 2: when you talk about that territory pride, I think it 107 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 2: shines through with any of the sports that we're involved with. 108 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 2: But when you then talk about having a national team, 109 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 2: it would be you know, it'd be amazing. 110 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, it is. And I think the other part of 111 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 3: it that we kind of move away from national team 112 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 3: is amazing piece. But they actually play Katie between October 113 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 3: and April, so that's an amazing time to activate our 114 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,599 Speaker 3: low season. You know, fifteen home games at a venue 115 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 3: in and around Dahen training centers, activated hotel room. That's 116 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 3: a lot of people coming up in a traditional quiet time. 117 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 3: And you know, I think when the world writes itself 118 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 3: from COVID in the next couple of years, is going 119 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,679 Speaker 3: to be really important to put content into those lower seasons, 120 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 3: and this is certainly a fix for that. So I 121 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 3: guess the biggest question I've gotten for the NBA is 122 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 3: how quick can we get one done? If they're keam 123 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 3: that's our view here at ntmch and I'll say that, 124 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 3: I'll say that proudly. 125 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 1: And what was the answer? How quick could it be? 126 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 3: Look, we'll go off what we've done in Tasmania is 127 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 3: the test case and the proofcase. They turn that round 128 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 3: and I think in about eighteen months now that's stretching it, 129 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 3: but it goes to show that, you know, if we 130 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 3: want it, the NBL can deliver now major events, proven 131 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 3: delivers in this space around around running major events. I 132 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 3: think that's one box particked. But Yeah, look, i'd hope, 133 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:03,799 Speaker 3: I'd hope in the coming years that we could definitely 134 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 3: have to be on the page to have something something 135 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 3: they call our own, Tim. 136 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: Where would they ply? That's I suppose the big question. 137 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, really good question. That's discussions that we'll have over 138 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,799 Speaker 3: next week with the pointy end of the NBL. The 139 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:20,239 Speaker 3: training centers at the obviously the day and Basketball Center 140 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 3: and the new nearly done Netball Center are perfect from 141 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 3: a training venue perspective. I'm quite cognizant that there'll have 142 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 3: to be redevelopments of something could even be a convention 143 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 3: center space that we could use as the main venue 144 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 3: with just these are all the ideas that we've got 145 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 3: to kind of work for right now and talk to 146 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 3: them about what they need. They redeveloped a fully a 147 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 3: full arena in Tasmania to get that housed, So there'll 148 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 3: be there'll be discussions to be had next week around 149 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 3: what can we do and then I guess how quick 150 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 3: can we do it? 151 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 2: So, Tim, this doesn't sound like it's pie in the 152 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: sky kind of stuff. This sounds like it is actually, 153 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 2: you know, like there's going to be serious discussions next 154 00:06:58,200 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: week about this. 155 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 3: Yeahsolutely and I think Jeremy LaLiga, the commissioner of the 156 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 3: NBL was was pretty was pretty pointed his commentary when 157 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 3: we announced it to say this is this is a 158 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 3: proof of concept, you know, months ago when we announced 159 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 3: the blitz. So I'm hoping that and they've been great 160 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 3: to deal with. They have to have to thank Marry 161 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 3: Tilson and the owner and Jeremy the commissioner of the league, 162 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 3: as well as gos a cl and the up and 163 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 3: around next week. We've been really, really good to deal with. 164 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 3: So I'm genuine in the fact that this is a 165 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 3: possibility if we can we can get the prospect to 166 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 3: stack up. You know, we're in good shape, I think, 167 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 3: and you know, hopefully, like I said, in a couple 168 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 3: of weeks to a month, we can have some fruitful 169 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 3: discussions with them with hopefully what will be a successful 170 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 3: week and and basically say how do we get this done? 171 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 2: Well, we might need to have an update next week. 172 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 2: Tim Watson, it it sounds like this quind of been 173 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 2: happening right before I let you go. You know, you 174 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 2: would think that towards the end of the year it 175 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 2: would start to quieten down a little bit. For endt 176 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 2: major events, but not for you guys. You still got 177 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 2: heaps going on. 178 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, the guys, the guys do. When we kind of 179 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 3: spring an NBL blitz two weeks after Red cin and 180 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 3: Outs which was probably the biggest one we've done down there, 181 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 3: our last weekend which was which is a rating success. 182 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 3: There's a few we realize. The guys love it though. 183 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 3: They're ringing it up. Where we're literally in planning stage 184 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 3: at the moment where the fantastic board meeting yesterday around 185 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 3: what next year looks like, so base will be bigger, 186 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 3: supercars will be bigger, and then obviously we're we're in 187 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 3: market now with our grant funding rounds, so the arm 188 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 3: of the business that supports you know, after seventy events 189 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 3: a year from a funding to spend pop on the 190 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 3: half of government's got the hands thirty at the moment. 191 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 3: So now, guys, but we're busy. You love it. 192 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: This is the best lots happening. 193 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 2: Well, Tim Watson, let's catch up next week and find 194 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 2: out if we're going to have an NBL team from 195 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory. 196 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: We'll talk to you then, good on you always good 197 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:45,479 Speaker 1: catching up thanks. 198 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 2: Mate, see yea and of course well, we were talking 199 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 2: about the NBL Blitz, the twenty twenty two Blitz. It 200 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 2: kicks off as we all know now the sixteenth, so tomorrow, 201 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,839 Speaker 2: runs until the twenty third, and if you do want 202 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 2: to get your hands on tickets, just head to NBL Blitz. 203 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,119 Speaker 1: Dot com dot au. It is going to be fantastic. 204 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 2: You know, I love sport and I love seeing wonderful 205 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 2: sport at such a high level here in the Northern Territory. 206 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 2: Keen to hear from you though this morning as well. 207 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 2: What do you think about this discussion? Would you like 208 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 2: to see the Northern Territory have our very own NBL 209 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 2: team Send us a message or give us a call 210 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 2: and let us know