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What is BASA?
BASA is an organisation that takes responsibility of:
- Developing and maintaining an effective state infrastructure for the sport of Basketball.

-Providing accessible and purposeful Basketball facilities, and high quality programmes and products.

- Raising the profile of the sport of Basketball by actively encouraging community involvement.

- Promoting excellence in the sport of Basketball, by nurturing and providing development opportunities for future "stars" in the Basketball arena; and


- Positively contributing to the National Basketball sporting network.
- from BASA website

The State of Basketball
South Australian basketball is not in a bad position talent-wise. Competition between clubs has prompted clubs to nurture young players, who if good enough could go on to join the South Australian Sports Institute. There are a number of good players who have come out of Adelaide and a number playing in Adelaide now.

The Adelaide 6ers have tasted success over the years and have had basketball legends wearing the blue, gold and red singlet. Players like Mark Davis, Brett Maher and Darnell Mee have been highly valuable to the success and spirit of the club.
Overall, the 6ers have reached the playoffs 17 times in 22 seasons, and on top of their four championships (1986, 1998, 1999, 2002), reached the Grand Final on two other occasions. (see 6ers history)

However, the administration and financial side of basketball is in a more perilous position. The Basketball Association of South Australia is running low on funds.

Funding
According to the Independant Weekly (April 24) the government has found BASA to be in enough financial trouble that will take $10 million to change and rescue it.

For the period 2003-04 BASA budgeted for a profit of $250,000 in its Budget Forecast. However, Auditor-General Ken MacPherson recorded a loss of $734,000 in a report last year.

As cited in the Independant Weekly MacPherson attributes this loss to the existing financial arrangement with the government. BASA was put in a perilous position by the State government.

The Stadium
The Clipsal Powerhouse began construction in 1989. The government loaned money to BASA to build the stadium which would host not just basketball games but concerts, conferences and dinner shows.

When the government built the Entertainment Centre the Powerhouse lost the ability to host large events. The government has given BASA $250,000 per annum as compensation. However, the Entertainment Centre has made $570,000 profit in a 12 month period.

BASA owes the government $12 million for the stadium. The government has significantly increased its funding to BASA to promote basketball and even written off some of the debt to $7.5 million. This still isn't enough as BASA continues to struggle with cashflow.
In the past two years the government has increased its funding to $1 million per year.

The 6ers remain the conly club in South Australia not to be owned by a private organisation but by a state association. There, apparently, are a few people who are interested in buying the club. If this happens then it is very likely that BASA will be bailed out of jail.

Where are the crowds?
Two seasons ago, 6ers games were the hottest ticket in town with sellout crowds. Last season the Dome struggled to get 3500 fans per game (less than half capacity). Commercial television use to air Basketball shows, much like the footy show. With those gone and ABC televions loss of the broadcasting rights to FOX, South Aussies are less aware of what's happening in basketball.

In previous years, ABC's broadcasts of 6ers games would promote interest in basketball in the community. People would then be interested in attending the games. As most people do not have cable there is now less public interest in the game.

Had BASA managed funds properly they may not have had to sell ABC's television rights to the higher bidding FOX.

A Lightning change for girls to Fellas
Local League
Player's Verdict
6ers history