COURTSIDE SERIES
The NBL’s missing piece, pre game elite development league
Strategic Proposal, August 14, 2025
The current NBL ecosystem delivers world class basketball, yet there is a clear gap between NBL1 and the professional stage. Athletes finish state seasons months before the NBL tips off, losing momentum and exposure. Fans miss a value packed game day that deepens engagement. The Courtside Series bridges this gap by creating a professional pre game league alongside NBL fixtures, keeping elite players in front of scouts and fans, enhancing entertainment, and opening new commercial and community touchpoints.
The Courtside Series concept
The vision
A professionally run pre game league featuring QSL and NBL1 elite players, creating premium doubleheaders that elevate talent development and fan engagement while generating new commercial opportunities.
Strategic positioning
The NBL’s missing piece, an integrated development pathway that turns game days into premium basketball festivals for players, fans, and partners.
Market timing
Basketball’s growth and the NBL’s commercial maturity create the right moment for an integrated model that scales nationally.
Why this has not been done
Commercial focus at the top
The NBL prioritised the main show, arenas, broadcast, sponsors. Pathways were left to NBL1, state leagues, and Basketball Australia.
Fragmented ecosystem
Split responsibilities across NBL, Basketball Australia, and NBL1 meant no single owner to unify a national pre league model.
Operational complexity
Scheduling, venues, staffing, officiating, medical, and production were seen as too complex without guaranteed return.
Limited vision
Focus stayed on stabilising and growing the NBL. An integrated model serving talent, fans, and revenue was not prioritised.
Missing coalition
Ideas need the right collective, player credibility, commercial skills, strategy, and networks. That coalition exists now.
Perfect timing
Participation growth, women and youth surge, government focus on inclusion and pathways, and a mature NBL create a unique window.
Structure and implementation
Doubleheader model
- Pre game elite competition, QSL and NBL1 talent
- Ninety minute premium experience
- Seamless integration with NBL games
- Enhanced venue utilisation and dwell time
Player development pipeline
- Direct NBL scout visibility
- Professional game conditions
- Off season skill continuity
- Coach and staff progression
Fan experience innovation
- Festival atmosphere
- Earlier arrival and extended engagement
- Community and youth integration
- Premium hospitality and corporate offers
The Courtside Series advantage
Integrated development
Unifies pathways into a single ecosystem that advances talent, engages fans, and drives revenue.
Revenue multiplier
Extends a single game into a premium doubleheader with ticketing, streaming, corporate, and merchandise upside.
Government alignment
Supports participation, wellbeing, and inclusion while maintaining commercial viability.
Right time to scale
Leverages the NBL’s maturity and basketball’s popularity to build a sustainable national framework.
Commercial pathways and revenue
Game day
- Doubleheader pricing
- Hospitality extensions
- Corporate entertainment
- Merchandise uplift
- VIP courtside
Digital and media
- Streaming inventory
- Highlight and social packages
- Development content
- Documentary options
- International syndication
Partnerships
- NBL co branding and licensing
- Basketball Australia alignment
- Equipment and apparel
- Community co investment
Investment framework
Clear ROI model, cost structure, and scalable growth aligned with NBL expansion.
Next steps and timeline
Phase 1, business case
League structure, teams, cost model, revenue estimates, NBL1 attendance as proxy.
Phase 2, packaging
Investor ready proposal, brand alignment, materials for stakeholder meetings.
Phase 3, engagement
Investor and league conversations, align incentives, secure support.
Phase 4, research
Ecosystem interviews and barrier mapping to refine the plan.
Phase 5, positioning
Lock unique value, community integration, and the revenue multiplier story.
Strategic positioning and competitive advantage
The right team at the right time
Player credibility, commercial expertise, and strategic networks aligned with market momentum.
Answering why now
The NBL focused on the pro product. We propose an integrated model that elevates fan experience, supports development, opens revenue, and aligns with government initiatives.
Confidentiality protocol
Maintain confidentiality during development to protect the position while the business case is built.
Risk mitigation
Define a partnership framework that rewards collaboration with the NBL rather than competition.
Who we are
Kim Hamilton
Strategic marketing and content specialist across sport, business, and community. Commercial strategy, partnerships, and storytelling that converts.
Jayden Hodgson
Sydney Kings development player known for grit, versatility, and high basketball IQ. NBL1 standout with leadership and two way impact.
Matt Ilodigwe
Basketball player and strategic operator with a track record in scaling ventures and building sustainable commercial models for sport.
Legal framework and intellectual property
Intellectual property
The Courtside Series concept, name, format, structure, commercial model, and implementation strategy are proprietary to the presenting parties. All rights reserved.
Confidentiality
This proposal is confidential. No disclosure, reproduction, or use without written consent. Unauthorised use may result in legal action.
Trademark and brand
Courtside Series branding is intended for trademark protection. Unauthorised use will be pursued under applicable law.
Partnership and licensing
Open to strategic partnerships and licensing on mutually beneficial terms via formal agreements that protect all parties.
Legal Action Plan
Trademark applications, partnership agreements, and IP protection strategies are prepared to support execution.
Request the legal packNBL Select, business pitch
Overview
The pathway operates like the NBA and G League, functioning as the NBL and NBL Select League. Select teams play as curtain raisers for NBL games and share travel, accommodation, meals, and logistics with NBL clubs, creating a professional environment and seamless movement between leagues.
Executive summary
Participation is at record highs, yet the elite pathway is uneven. NBL Select bridges grassroots and the pros, mirrors the NBA and G League model, keeps talent in Australia, and enables long term growth.
The problem
- NBL1 balance issues, budget and returning NBL stars dominate, restricting grassroots opportunity
- US college pathway has declined for school leavers due to the transfer portal and NIL focus
- Returning college players find no clear professional pathway
- Development players see limited minutes and often exit by mid twenties
- Opportunities can depend on relationships rather than performance
The pathway
Junior Rep Club to NBL1 Club to Drafted or scouted to NBL Select to Drafted or selected to NBL. Options include selected NBL1 club affiliations or every NBL1 club affiliating with an NBL Select team. A league wide draft pool selects best available talent. Each NBL club runs an NBL Select roster that travels, trains, and competes alongside affiliates with two way movement in season. Each NBL roster includes one mandatory NBL Select draft pick.
Strengths
- Equal opportunity for players and coaches
- Small markets gain continuity and competitiveness
- Fan engagement and community connection deepen
- New revenue via tickets, merchandise, sponsorship
- Better game day experience
Why now
Basketball is Australia’s fastest growing team sport. The current system limits opportunity for non COE and non NBL first players. NBL Select aligns with proven global development models and supports sustainable growth and stronger engagement.
Conclusion
More than 1.3 million Australians play basketball each year. Participation in Victoria grew 3.5 percent in 2024. Queensland ranks basketball in its top five sports. NBL Select can retain top talent, open streaming and sponsorship opportunities, and build long term commercial and competitive sustainability.
Ready to launch the Courtside Series
Let us turn game day into a premium doubleheader and build the pathway Australian basketball needs.