Sydney Kings owner Paul Smith will unveil a revolutionary plan to bring WNBL and Super Netball teams to Wollongong, as the NBL attempt to rescue the LaMelo Ball deal with the Illawarra Hawks.
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Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Smith has mapped out a blueprint which would deliver a massive boom for women's sport in the Illawarra, opening the door for a multi-million dollar revamp of the Beaton Park precinct, which would include using a redeveloped Snakepit as the playing venue.
"When sport takes off again I want to be able to introduce a vision to bring women's basketball and netball to the region," Smith, who recently took over the Sydney Uni Flames WNBL licence, said.
"It will be sustainable and help connect real people to elite sport. With the women's basketball World Cup in Sydney in 2022, now is the time to bring on the planning and get the model to work, let's move quickly, let's do it."
An Illawarra netball bid was launched in 2016, but was overwhelmed by the financial clout of AFL clubs, including the GWS Giants, who instead joined the league.
Smith remains a potential part-owner of the Illawarra Hawks, who were dragged into voluntary administration on Friday when Simon Stratford handed the licence back to the NBL.
However, the NBL have already stated a reluctance to allow Smith to have an interest in both the Kings and Hawks and are set to press on with a deal involving No.1 NBA draft prospect Ball and manager Jermaine Jackson, with Wollongong Wolves backer Tory Lavalle.
After the Mercury broke the story confirming Ball was in line to take over the ownership, Jackson told ESPN it was a "done deal", before Lavalle admitted a miscommunication had led to their belief the bid had been approved.
The Mercury understands the NBL remain keen to seal the Ball deal as they work through voluntary administration. NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger was adamant all offers are still on the table, however, one of the issues to be resolved is the new owners' commitment to taking games to Canberra or NSW and Victorian cities.
"There are a number of parties interested in ownership, either in part or whole, including LaMelo Ball and his management, and Jermaine Jackson in particular," Loeliger told AAP.
"We're continuing to have discussions with them, which is great, but there are plenty of others in the background also."
