With the collapse of the BBL over the summer and the formation of the new SLB, calls for stability and sustainable growth within British basketball have become louder. SLB Interim Chair Vaughn Millette recently captured this vision during an interview with Hoopsfix. When asked about the importance of each franchise owning and controlling its venue, his response was simple yet profound: “It’s everything.”
This statement underscores the pivotal role venue ownership plays—not only in securing financial stability for individual clubs but also in building the league’s long-term future as a thriving and independent ecosystem. While a handful of SLB teams already own their arenas, many still rely on rented spaces, highlighting the need for a clear, structured path to ensure all clubs can achieve venue ownership. Below is a summary of each SLB club’s current venue situation, detailing ownership status, arena capacity, and development plans.
Current State of SLB Venue Ownership
Table 1: SLB Clubs with Both Men’s and Women’s Teams
| Team | Venue | Owned by Team? | Capacity | Building Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Eagles | Vertu Motors Arena | Yes | 2,800 | Expand Current Capacity |
| B. Braun Sheffield Sharks & Hatters | Canon Medical Arena | Yes | 2,500 | |
| Leicester Riders | Mattioli Arena | Yes | 2,400 | |
| Caledonia Gladiators | PlaySport Scotland | Yes | 1,800 | Expand Current Capacity |
| London Lions | Copper Box Arena | No (Greenwich Leisure Ltd) | 6,000 | |
| Manchester Basketball | National Basketball Performance Centre | No (Manchester City Council) | 2,000 |
Table 2: SLB Clubs with Only Men’s Teams
| Team | Venue | Owned by Team? | Capacity | Building Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshire Phoenix | Cheshire Oaks Arena | No | 1,400 | |
| Bristol Flyers | SGS College Arena | No (SGS College) | 750 | New Venue |
| Surrey 89ers | Surrey Sports Park | No (University of Surrey) | – |
Table 3: SLB Clubs with Only Women’s Teams
| Team | Venue | Owned by Team? | Capacity | Building Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Wildcats | Wildcats Arena | Yes | – | |
| Essex Rebels | Essex Sport Arena | Yes* (University of Essex) | 1,655 | |
| Cardiff Met Archers | Archers Arena | Yes* (Cardiff Metropolitan University) | 500 | |
| Durham Palatinates | Durham University Sports & Wellbeing Park | Yes* (Durham University) | – | |
| Oaklands Wolves | Oaklands College | Yes* (Oaklands College) | – |
*University-owned venues, where the university also owns the club, operate under a different financial structure with institutional support. While stable, these clubs don’t face the same drive for financial independence through venue ownership.
Financial Stability and Revenue Opportunities of Venue Ownership
Venue ownership enables SLB clubs to control all revenue streams—game-day income and event rentals—providing financial stability and enhanced engagement with local communities. For instance, the Leicester Riders utilise their Mattioli Arena for corporate events, while the Newcastle Eagles host youth camps, highlighting the diverse revenue opportunities available to clubs that own their venues. This direct control also insulates clubs from rising rental costs, giving them full operational control and securing a stable foundation for growth.
Achieving League-Wide Venue Ownership
The development of new facilities by Caledonia and Bristol is a positive step for British basketball, but more must be done to ensure every SLB team can secure its own venue. Universal venue ownership should be a foundational goal for the SLB, as it strengthens club finances and boosts the league’s overall stability and appeal.
To achieve this, the SLB could establish clear standards for new investors, requiring them to present a viable venue investment plan aligned with the league’s commitment to long-term growth. For existing clubs without ownership, the SLB could provide phased financial support through revenue-sharing initiatives or investor partnerships to ease the initial cost of development, with the ultimate aim of transitioning clubs to full ownership over time.
Building a Self-Sustaining SLB
A self-sustaining SLB with fully venue-owned clubs is an achievable, transformative goal. By establishing clear investor requirements and offering support to current clubs, the SLB can build a stable foundation that promises financial security and competitive parity. This is the vision Vaughn Millette champions—a league where every team is not only competitive on the court but secure and sustainable off it.
Links
- SLB Interim Chair Vaughn Millette discusses the founding of the SLB basketball and the importance of venue ownership: https://youtu.be/3OuknNHQNWI?si=sdQrHl-WslYgAaFt
- Caledonia Gladiators’ project: https://caledoniagladiators.com/caledonia-gladiators-announce-20m-new-stadium-project/
- Bristol Flyers’ project: https://www.superleaguebasketballm.co.uk/cleared-for-take-off-bristol-flyers-new-home-plans-progress/
- Hoopsfix article from 2018 on basketball facilities: https://www.hoopsfix.com/2018/07/england-basketball-facilities
