DELAY INEVITABLE FOR VIABLE START - Hoopsfix.com

DELAY INEVITABLE FOR VIABLE START

The BBL is set for a delayed start, one leading club has admitted.

Although no formal announcement has yet been made with less than a week to the scheduled tip-off, it is expected that a decision will be taken by the British Basketball League to push it back with multiple teams insistent games should not take place while restrictions to deal with coronavirus forbid spectators.

The BBL, along with the Women’s BBL, is one of a number of sporting organisations asking for government help as officials from the Treasury and the Department for Digital, Culture and Sport continue to finalise a package of support which, some sources claim, could be worth up to a £1 billion to the sector.

But Sheffield Sharks director Sarah Backovic says there must be an assurance that all eleven clubs are “able to compete and are financially viable” when – or if – action is resumed.

“Six months is obviously not ideal but we are very lucky in Sheffield that we have a lot of support,” she told the Yorkshire Post.

“We will make sure we are prepared for the worst-case scenario, and we have our streaming platforms and pay-per-view offerings that hopefully help replace the ticket revenue lost.

“We just have to hope the Government relaxes their measures sooner rather than later.”