Emergency pod!

With the shock news that the British Basketball Federation (BBF) has granted preferred bidder status to an investment group led by Marshall Glickman, going into an exclusive negotiating period for the professional league operating license, we got BBF Chair Chris Grant on the pod to discuss his and the BBF’s position.

It was widely expected that Super League Basketball (SLB) would be the ones to get the preferred bidder status but they did not submit a tender, citing unreasonable & unlawful demands – including a £25k non-refundable fee just to tender & a £1.5M annual license fee, all while the BBF retains a large amount of control.

For episode 117 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with Super League Basketball (SLB) interim Chair and Sheffield Sharks and Hatters new owner Vaughn Millette.

Vaughn discussed his journey into British basketball, his role as interim chair of the league, and the challenges faced in revitalising the sport after a tumultuous summer.

He shared insights on the business dynamics of the league, the importance of community engagement, and the need for financial stability.

Vaughn emphasised the significance of developing British talent and improving facilities to foster growth in the sport. He also highlights the collaborative efforts with the British Basketball Federation and the potential for future expansion and investment in the league.

In episode 115 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with Pete Taylor (Chair) and Josh Merrington (GM) of the Milton Keynes Breakers basketball club.

Over the past seven years, Breakers have gone from 40 kids to over a 1000, while adding a Senior National League side that has got promoted every year and will be in Division 1 next season.

Not only that, but they've built a large fan base - with over 400 travelling to the National Cup Finals in January - and a thriving business, set to turnover more than £500,000 this year.

Timestamps:

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:06 Introduction and Background
02:42 History of the Club
06:34 Impact of COVID-19
08:50 Expanding the Club and Community Support
11:15 Promoting the Club and Building Relationships
14:51 Developing Talent and Player Pathway
25:30 Retaining Players and Life After Basketball
32:43 Payment Structure and Off-Court Development
33:00 Club Budget and Financial Prudence
36:44 Generating Revenue and Managing Costs
41:30 Grant Funding and Sponsorship
46:30 Importance of Digital Presence
52:07 Future Growth and Expansion
57:05 Facility Development and Expansion
59:56 Potential for BBL and WBBL Franchise