Canberra Gets New NBL Role

Monday, 3 August 2026, 1:52 pm

The Ignite Cup will be played in Canberra.

In short:

The NBL's mid-season Ignite Cup will move from the Gold Coast to Canberra.

People think Canberra might get a new NBL team.

The NBL wants to grow, but new teams must have big stadiums.

Canberra is closer to having an NBL team after 20 years.

The Ignite Cup finals will move from the Gold Coast to Canberra's AIS Arena.

This is a big change for Canberra as people think the NBL will expand there.

A famous basketball player will join Melbourne United.

The NBL wants to grow, but new teams must have big stadiums.

The ACT government will build a new convention center, which might help Canberra get an NBL team.

The Canberra Cannons won three NBL titles before moving to Newcastle.

The NBL CEO thinks Canberra can have a great team if they get a new stadium.

The NBL is building a strong business case for a team in Canberra.

The ACT Chief Minister said the new convention center will have at least 7,500 seats.

A basketball team playing in the new center is important for the business case.

The AIS Arena is a great venue, but it's too small.

Many people think 5,000 seats is not enough for big events.

Before expansion, Canberra will host the midweek Ignite Cup.

The best teams will compete for $550,000 in the semifinals and finals in Canberra.

The NBL's MVP Awards will be hosted in Canberra's Parliament House.

AAP

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