Gold Coast Blaze
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gold Coast Blaze | |
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| Established | 2007/08 |
| Team Colours | Aqua, Yellow and White |
| Home Venue | Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, Queensland |
| Major Sponsor | TBA |
| Championships | None |
| Team History | Gold Coast Blaze (2007-Present) |
| Chief Executive | David Claxton |
| Coach | Brendan Joyce |
| Captain | TBA |
| Website | http://www.gcblaze.com.au/ |
The Gold Coast Blaze is a future team in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL). The Blaze will compete in their inaugural season in 2007/08. The club is based on the Gold Coast and will join three other NBL clubs competing from Queensland. The Blaze are in no way related to the previous Gold Coast representative in the NBL, the Gold Coast Rollers.
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[edit] History
The first official reports of a new Gold Coast franchise surfaced in September, 2006.[1] Former Gold Coast Rollers head coach Dave Claxton spearheaded a bid for a NBL license for the Gold Coast. On November 21, 2006, the NBL Board officially announced the addition of a new Gold Coast franchise and reported that the club would compete out of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.[2]
In January, 2007, the newly founded Gold Coast franchise held a competition to name the club.[3] The franchise offered four options to choose from including the 'Heat', 'Marlins', 'Flyers' and 'Waves', as well as the ability to suggest another alternative. On February 23, 2007, the franchise announced that it would compete under the 'Blaze' moniker.[4] Despite the 'Heat' name being voted the most popular in the naming competition, club officials decided it would be best to steer clear of the name following objections from the NBA, due to the name being held by the Miami Heat.
Prior to the official naming of the franchise, the Blaze made their first major signing on January 18, 2007. The Blaze signed former Wollongong Hawks head coach Brendan Joyce as their inaugural head coach.[5] Following this signing the club signed former West Sydney Razorbacks head coach Mark Watkins their first assistant coach on February, 20, 2007.[6]
[edit] Current Roster
The Blaze are yet to sign any players. They are rumoured to have former Wollongong Hawk and Australian Boomer Glen Saville in their sights to anchor their franchise.
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,20376713-5006371,00.html Nagy, Boti (2006). "Gold Coast to get a team". AdelaideNow. Retrieved February, 24, 2007.
- ^ http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=4240 NBL (2006). "NBL expands to Gold Coast". Retrieved February, 24, 2007.
- ^ http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=4539 NBL (2007). "Gold Coast name game". Retrieved February, 24, 2007.
- ^ http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=4745 Gold Coast Basketball (2007). "Gold Coast sets NBL a Blaze". Retrieved February, 24, 2007.
- ^ http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=4538 Gold Coast (2007). "Gold Coast signs Joyce". Retrieved February, 24, 2007.
- ^ http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=4724 Gold Coast (2007). "Watkins joins Gold Coast". Retrieved February, 24, 2007.
[edit] External links
| Clubs in the National Basketball League |
|
Adelaide 36ers | Brisbane Bullets | Cairns Taipans | Gold Coast Blaze | Melbourne Tigers | New Zealand Breakers | Perth Wildcats | Singapore Slingers | South Dragons | Sydney Kings | Townsville Crocodiles | West Sydney Razorbacks | Wollongong Hawks |
