The National Basketball League is in “advanced” talks to create an expansion team for the Gold Coast.
NBL chief operating officer Vince Crivelli has confirmed the league is ready to create a new franchise in the city but only if it has the right infrastructure.
The Gold Coast City Council is eyeing the planned arena at Southport’s Carey Park as the future location of the proposed expansion team.
Mr Crivelli said “fan demand and commercial appetite” were strong enough in the region to justify a team but having an appropriate venue was “non-negotiable” and would put the Coast “at the front of the queue”.
“Expansion for the NBL is no longer a question of if, but when (and) the Gold Coast is firmly in that conversation,” he said.
“It’s a high-growth market, it has a strong sporting identity, and there has been genuine interest shown in the past.
“As a league, we’ve been very clear that any expansion must strengthen the competition, and the Gold Coast continues to present as a market with real potential, provided the right foundations are put in place.”
Early talks were held between the council and NBL in 2023 about the possibility of the city returning to the league for the first time since 2012, with councillors voting in late 2024 to seek a licence.
Mr Crivelli said “the direction of travel is clear” in terms of the NBL’s interest in expanding into the Gold Coast market
“We’ve moved beyond early-stage discussion and into a phase of advanced consultation around expansion,” he said.
“The NBL is able to expand, and markets that are prepared, in terms of venues, ownership and commercial backing, can move to the front of the queue.
“The opportunity is there for the Gold Coast to be part of that next phase if the momentum continues and it starts with urgent progress on venue outcomes, followed closely by attracting committed ownership groups with a long-term vision.”
The council launched an international expression of interest (EOI) campaign in August on the arena which ran until late November, with the push on to have the 12,000-seat project built by 2030.
It is expected to be fast-tracked for use as an Olympic and Paralympic Games venue in 2032.
Invest Gold Coast chief executive Mark Girard said a shortlist of two proponents would be given to council for consideration in the first quarter of 2026.
“It is exciting that the private sector is fully behind this project and ready to partner with us to deliver a world-class arena for the Gold Coast,’ he said.
“We will now rigorously assess each proposal for design vision, strong public value, capacity and capability as well as Olympic readiness.
“Our ambition is to deliver a world-class arena that attracts the biggest names in global sport and entertainment.”