After losing long-time backer Mitsubishi Motors at the end of last season, the NBL was hopeful of securing a corporate replacement to hang its name on the competition.
Instead, the NBL's marketing and sponsorship partner Sportsworld has decided to aim at signing four second-tier sponsors in lieu of a naming-rights backer worth between A$2-3 million ($1-2m/B1.1-B1.6m) per season.
Another aspect of the Sportsworld rationale was that to rush through a naming-rights sponsorship now might call for drastic discounting, which would lock the NBL into a multi-year deal at rates well below market value.
Sportsworld is understood to be confident of securing a quartet of sponsors before next weekend's season tip-off, or in the early weeks of the season to underpin the NBL's thinning financial resources.
