CHAIR, RUSSELL BELL HAPPY WITH PROGRESS, SHARES FUTURE PLANS FOR BCB

As the BCB League season is due to begin this weekend, chairman Russell Bell is delighted that the level of competition has increased and is excited for an exhilarating campaign ahead.

With big shoes to fill after a hugely successful first season, when three clubs won the three available trophies on offer, the opening month of the league’s second season has continued to underline how competitive the competition is becoming.

Several games have gone down to the wire, with numerous results decided by single-digit margins and, in particular, within 10 points. The closely fought contests have provided an early indication of the competitiveness and unpredictability that could define the season.

“If you can sum up the start of the BCB season, I would instantly tell you that the competitive spirit within all the teams is unmatched,” Bell said.

“We have seen really close games, quite a few single-digit games, games decided in the remaining seconds and within 10 points. I think that the six clubs that have come in from outside the League have done well in the main. Oaklands have been very competitive, and Gloucester are in the quarter-finals. So you can see that there's an impetus growing for the trophy. And as we go into the quarterfinals, we've got some great headline games.

“And it all builds up to what promises to be a thrilling League campaign with so many anticipated games coming up.”

The future of the BCB is in great shape

Away from the court, the league is continuing its efforts to professionalise its operations as it progresses through its second season. A big milestone in that process was the appointment of Emily Clarke as the organisation’s full-time Chief Operating Officer.

The move marks a shift away from the league’s previous reliance on volunteer efforts and is designed to create a more structured, sustainable operation.

Improving organisation, decision-making and communication with clubs is now a key management priority. Keeping clubs fully engaged and better supported will be central to the league’s development as it builds stronger foundations for future growth.

“The first season went really well; I think we had a good year in terms of performance and in terms of delivery of games,” Bell explained.

“I think the Playoff final and the Trophy final were both run on pretty short notice but very successfully. I think we've got to be better organised in some ways,” Bell explained.

“We're making better decisions. We're trying to communicate better with the clubs and get them involved and engaged. So, all that's leaving us in good stead for the future.”

What’s next?

Over the next 18 to 24 months, the league’s primary strategic objective is to successfully commercialise the competition.

Bell is targeting serious commercial investment, with improvements to the broadcast product identified as an important part of that strategy.

Enhancing the quality of streaming and commentary will help the league present a more attractive proposition to potential commercial partners.

Increasing viewership will be central to that proposition, but the league also believes its extensive club participation programmes can demonstrate significant value to sponsors.

Some clubs are already engaging between 800 and 1,000 children every weekend through their programmes.

“We want more eyeballs on the BCB, and with more eyeballs comes more exposure and you can then go to sponsors and say, ‘Right, this is a serious league’,” Bell said.

“We want more people going to games and watching the product. With that comes better streaming, commentary, a more watchable kind of product. There's a lot of work to be done in those areas. But once we get that right, I'd like to see in 18 months, two years' time, some serious commercial money coming into this league.”

The ambition is to standardise participation levels across the league. Achieving that scale consistently would increase the competition’s reach and strengthen the case for commercial income, benefiting both individual clubs and the League.

With competitive performances on the court matched by professionalisation and commercial development off it, the league is entering an important but exciting stage of its growth.