Post by LTFan on Nov 2, 2021 14:25:38 GMT
I was somewhat surprised last Saturday to see the British Netball Fast 5 All Stars Championship back at the Copper Box Arena on Sky Sports.
For any newcomers, for 3 years prior to the pandemic every October Matchroom Sport (run by Barry and Eddie Hearn) ran both the British Netball Fast 5 All Stars Championship (on the Saturday) and the British Basketball All-Stars Championship (on the Sunday). Initially at the O2, then at the Copper Box Arena. The British Basketball All-Stars Championship featured the top 8 teams from the BBL compete in a 5 hour tournament of 12 minute basketball games (with some questionable gimmicks).
I assumed it's absence last year and this year was pandemic related, so was surprised to see the British Netball Fast 5 All Stars Championship back with no British Basketball All-Stars Championship the following day. I know the netball event was more profitable than the basketball event, but financially it made sense to run the 2 events over one weekend to split some of the costs. Was the basketball event really not successful enough that this year it made sense for just the netball event to return? I guess so?
I know the British Basketball All-Stars Championship wasn't liked by all, especially the purists, and I know it was somewhat circus/gameshow basketball, but I liked it.
It was a great opportunity to see 8 BBL teams in a single day, and also a great place for the basketball community from across the country to socialise. I know you could argue the Play-Off final at the O2 sort of does that, but only ever having 2 teams involved (as opposed to 8) it's never had the same collective gathering of fans.
It also provided £100,000 prize money directly into the BBL and it's teams.
If it's really done, I'll miss it.
For any newcomers, for 3 years prior to the pandemic every October Matchroom Sport (run by Barry and Eddie Hearn) ran both the British Netball Fast 5 All Stars Championship (on the Saturday) and the British Basketball All-Stars Championship (on the Sunday). Initially at the O2, then at the Copper Box Arena. The British Basketball All-Stars Championship featured the top 8 teams from the BBL compete in a 5 hour tournament of 12 minute basketball games (with some questionable gimmicks).
I assumed it's absence last year and this year was pandemic related, so was surprised to see the British Netball Fast 5 All Stars Championship back with no British Basketball All-Stars Championship the following day. I know the netball event was more profitable than the basketball event, but financially it made sense to run the 2 events over one weekend to split some of the costs. Was the basketball event really not successful enough that this year it made sense for just the netball event to return? I guess so?
I know the British Basketball All-Stars Championship wasn't liked by all, especially the purists, and I know it was somewhat circus/gameshow basketball, but I liked it.
It was a great opportunity to see 8 BBL teams in a single day, and also a great place for the basketball community from across the country to socialise. I know you could argue the Play-Off final at the O2 sort of does that, but only ever having 2 teams involved (as opposed to 8) it's never had the same collective gathering of fans.
It also provided £100,000 prize money directly into the BBL and it's teams.
If it's really done, I'll miss it.
