Page 19 - BWA 2021 ANNUAL REPORT

NBL1WEST Adam Bowler General Manager of Basketball Operations
SBL TRANSITION TO NBL1 WEST A HUGE SUCCESS
After months of negotiations, planning and development, in 2021 the WA State Basketball League (SBL) officially amalgamated with the NBL to convert to the NBL1 West Conference of the national competition.
The SBL product had a rich 30+ year history in WA Basketball and in 2021 the rebrand to NBL1 West took the league to new heights as part of a national brand. The NBL1 has created a pathway for athletes to the Australian National Leagues and offered unprecedented exposure to the league.
The inaugural NBL1 West competition saw all 276 games from the 14 clubs, live streamed with commentary and graphics overlay, a first in the history of the league.
Over 4 million minutes of NBL1 West were live streamed around the world by over 138,000 viewers.
The Championship Games had over 13,000 viewers online and on Kayo Sports, with the games being played in front of sell-out crowds at the Bendat Basketball Centre.
The Perry Lakes Hawks took out the inaugural Men’s NBL1 West competition defeating the Rockingham Flames, while the Willetton Tigers were crowned the Women’s NBL1 West Champions defeating the Joondalup Wolves.
The NBL1 competition successfully launched its commercialisation, signing Coles Express as a national naming rights sponsor, joining major partners Bunnings Trade, Dream Courts and Footlocker.
With COVID implications, crowds were excellent across the league with over 100,000 people attending games across WA during the season.
Four Community Engagement Rounds were successfully implemented including ANZAC Round, First National Round, Pink Round and Mental Health Awareness Round which raised over $10,000 for Lifeline WA through the orange sock campaign.
All 276 games were covered by 3-person-officials with 7 WA referees named on the National League Panel on the back of outstanding seasons in the NBL1 West.
“Over 4 million minutes of NBL1 West were live streamed around the world by over 138,000 viewers.”
BWA ANNUAL REPORT 2021 | 19