Adelaide 36ers Sold to 'Save our Sixers' Consortium

Basketball Australia has confirmed that the illustrious Adelaide 36ers National Basketball League (NBL) team has been sold to the 'Save Our Sixers' consortium, which is headed by new club Chairman Mark Lewis.

Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock welcomed the move and said the new ownership group had already started to move forward with planning for the 2009/10 season.

He advised "the sale of the 36ers to the Mark Lewis-led consortium is a major step forward for the team, ensuring the Adelaide club that competes in the NBL in 2009/10 will play as the 36ers.

"That is clearly important to the people of Adelaide, who have long supported the club and see the 36ers as an iconic local South Australian sporting team. South Australia has long been a stronghold for basketball in Australia and we're ecstatic that the NBL will continue to have sound representation there through the 36ers brand.

"The Board of BA have worked closely with the incoming group to ensure they have the capacity to lay a foundation of long-term success for the team.

"We are also delighted with the involvement of a member of the distinguished Lewis family in the consortium, with Mark Lewis being a successful South Australian businessman in his own right."

Lewis is the Managing Director of Bernie Lewis Home Loans and Bernie Lewis Wealth Management, as well as the son of former 36ers Chairman the late Bernie Lewis.

The new group have also agreed to a long-term lease plan at the Distinctive Homes Dome to ensure the 36ers can continue to play from their purpose-built home court, which saw a sold-out crowd of more than 8,000 attend captain Brett Maherâs farewell game on 7th February this year.

The NBL season tips-off on 24th September, with the 36ers first game scheduled for 26th September on the road against the Cairns Taipans.