What Fans Told Us: Recap of the First BBFA Fan Forum
The turnout was passionate, the contributions thoughtful, and the message clear: fans are ready to speak up — and we’re not going away.
On Thursday 1st May — just one day before the playoffs tipped off — supporters from across the UK joined the very first BBFA Fan Forum, united by a shared mission: to demand clarity, accountability, and inclusion in the decisions shaping British basketball’s future.
The Key Themes
1. Frustration at the Silence
Fans voiced deep concern about the lack of public communication from the BBF and GBBL. With the 2025/26 season fast approaching — and no official sanctioning in place — supporters questioned how clubs will enter European competition, what the risks are for players, and why no one is addressing the fanbase directly.
“There has been no social media disclosure by either side. Can they confirm that ‘the adults have gotten round the table’?”
2. Fear of Losing Momentum
Multiple fans pointed out the progress made this season — from the rise in away support and DAZN coverage to the growing buzz around the women’s game. Many feared this could be undone by the current instability.
“This season has been fantastic. It would be a tragedy to rip it apart.”
“Women’s basketball is growing fast — why aren’t we capitalising on it?”
3. Scepticism Toward the GBBL Licence
The BBF’s decision to award a 15-year licence to GBBL — following a tender process with only one bidder — came under heavy scrutiny. Fans questioned whether the funding is real, what the league structure will look like, and how GBBL can succeed without buy-in from existing clubs.
“GBBL without the clubs is akin to a fantasy league.”
4. What Fans Want to See
Attendees didn’t just vent frustrations — they offered vision:
Long-term investment, not short-term PR
Player continuity and storytelling to build star power
Consistent coverage across men’s and women’s basketball
Inclusion of players, coaches, and fans in future planning
Better facilities, game-day experience, and broadcast infrastructure
“We shouldn’t need to be experts in corporate finance just to follow British basketball.”
“British basketball needs structure to support the pro league and the national team.”
Missed the Forum?
Don’t worry — the full replay is available on YouTube now.
What’s Next?
This was only the beginning.
We’ll now:
Crowdsource more questions and comments from BBFA members
Draft an open letter to the BBF, SLB, and GBBL
Ensure that every member’s voice and input is represented in what we send
Continue building the BBFA into a legitimate, unified voice for supporters nationwide
If you want to help us keep the pressure on and ensure fans are part of the future, now’s the time.
Really enjoyed the fan forum via YouTube earlier today.
I'm a relative newcomer to British basketball & I've been a regular visitor to the Canon Medical Arena to watch the Sheffield Sharks for the last 2 years. Big congratulations to the SLB in putting together a fantastic product in an extremely short period last Summer.
There's too much going on at the moment which I don't profess to fully understand, although I fear that the current situation is only going to get worse before it gets better, particularly when large sums of money, personal egos & stubbornness are in evidence, which is never a good mix.
My initial question for the new group relates to the recent chatter about the possibility of an NBA Europe venture, either as a stand alone product or in conjunction with Euro league. The talk of NBA involvement may simply be a coincidence, coming around the same time that the GBBL has appeared on the scene from nowhere, but part of that conversation has hinted at creating new Basketball franchises in London & Manchester. If that does come to pass, what impact could that have on the current professional league in the UK, be that SLB, GBBL or whatever comes next? ie. could these new franchises effectively suck the life out of the current league structure or alternatively, could they potentially boost the current structure?
Furthermore could we see London Lions morphing into becoming the London Franchise, & in turn exiting the current league structure? The same could apply in Manchester although I suspect the plans there, would involve creating a completely new organisation, based at one of the two 20k capacity arenas in the city?
Anyway, enough for now, sorry for the ramble & keep up the good work.