🏀 Game Fee Update: Investing in the Future of Basketball
Game Fee Adjustment – Investing in the Future of Basketball
As we prepare for the upcoming domestic season, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work of our clubs and members in making basketball accessible and enjoyable for everyone. While we have worked diligently to minimise costs, it is now necessary to adjust game fees to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of our sport.
As you will see in the historical fee breakdown below, SPBA made a commitment coming out of COVID to make basketball as affordable as possible, particularly until interest rates drop.
Game Fees – Effective Winter 2025
Junior and Senior Team Game Fees:
$80 per game when paying via TeamPay
$85 per game when paying over the counter via cash or EFTPOS
This increase has been made to keep basketball as affordable as possible while allowing us to reinvest in critical areas such as venue improvements, staffing, and competition management. By offering a discount to teams paying on TeamPay, we are encouraging streamlined payments that provide a service to our members and Team Managers while still providing members with an option of how they want to pay.
Why Are We Increasing Fees?
Over the past five years, our operational costs have increased by 34.7%, while game fees have only risen by 7.1%. We have absorbed as much of these costs as possible through initiatives such as:
Growing our tournaments
Working with clubs to grow participation
Establishing the Pro Shop as a club uniform provider
Engaging sponsors and community partners
Securing grants to support development initiatives
Implementing cost reduction strategies
Despite these efforts, it is no longer sustainable to continue operating at pre-COVID fee levels.
Nearby associations currently charge between $87.50 and $100 per game, with some Victorian Associations charging game fees exceeding $100 per team. Meaning our fees remain highly competitive. This adjustment will ensure we can maintain and enhance the quality of our competitions while keeping fees as low as possible.
Historical Game Fee Breakdown
To provide transparency, here is a breakdown of junior game fees since 2018. The switch from per-player to per-team fees in 2021 has been accounted for using an average of seven junior players per team:
How This Benefits Our Members
By adjusting our game fees and introducing the TeamPay discount, we can:
Continue investing in facilities, competition resources, and referee development
Support clubs through streamlined payment processes, reducing administrative burdens
Improve overall basketball operations to enhance the experience for players and teams
We have already seen the following investments take place:
Additional resources committed to our Referee Education
Additional resources committed to supporting our competition management
Refurbishment of Court 3 ($50,000)
In the coming months we also plan to:
Upgrade to lowerable rings on two additional courts and upgrade all rings at Dromana Stadium (cost of $125,000), resulting in more consistent game times and quicker fixture release
Ultimately, all of this and more is achievable for just $1.29 per player on average.
Thank You
Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to making basketball accessible and enjoyable for our community. These changes are necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of our sport, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Ben White
General Manager
Southern Peninsula Basketball Association