Manchester Magic Considering BBL Move?

After the use of Manchester Magic’s Amaechi Centre for the Mersey Tigers’ BBL Trophy semi-final first leg clash with Newcastle Eagles last Wednesday, renewed talks have emerged of a move for EBL Division 1 side Manchester Magic to the top flight British Basketball League.

The Manchester Evening News reports:

Magic coach Jeff Jones – who led the now defunct Manchester Giants and Derby Storm in the top division – has made no secret of the fact that he wants to see Magic play at the highest possible level.

And, while club bosses have cautiously put the organisation’s junior programme and community commitments first when the debate has surfaced in previous years, chair of trustees Joe Forber admits he was impressed and encouraged by what he saw on Wednesday.

“It was great for the club to have such a good crowd and a good atmosphere in the centre,” he said. “It was organised superbly well and there was a buzz about the place.

“It was interesting for us in terms of our thinking about the BBL, particularly the size of the crowd. I have no doubt that if we were playing top-quality basketball at that level we would fill the place out every week.

“It doesn’t change what I think about the BBL in general – there are lots of other considerations to take into account other than what happens here on a Saturday night.

“But it was very positive and the issue is up for consideration and discussion. I am not anti-BBL – the opposite, in fact, and I am pushing for us to look at it sooner rather than later.”

What do you think? Would you like to see a Manchester franchise back in the BBL? Drop a comment and let us know!