Tasmania's ever-improving chances of getting a team in the National Basketball League should make the AFL and the A-League sit up and take notice, Premier Will Hodgman says.
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On Monday, the Glenorchy City Council gave exclusive rights to NBL owner Larry Kestelman to negotiate with it over the planned sale of the Derwent Entertainment Centre.
Mr Kestelman, one of the wealthiest people in Australia, has expressed strong interest in buying the DEC, proposing a $150-200 million redevelopment of both the entertainment complex and Wilkinson's Point itself.
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It's believed Mr Kestelman's prospective purchase of the DEC would be followed by Tasmania regaining a licence for an NBL team.
Mr Hodgman said Glenorchy City Council's decision to deal exclusively with Mr Kestelman was "fantastic" and "exciting".
"I've had some brief meetings with Larry Kestelman ... about what role might be expected of the state government [in this process]," he said.
"And we're planning to meet over the coming week to understand further what the plans are.
"[We will meet] the ... council, as well."
The Premier said Mr Kestelman's development would make the DEC both "a more viable asset" and "potentially the home of a national team in the NBL".
"Hopefully that will spur on other national sporting competitions to look at Tasmania as a place to be as well," he said.
"We've had really positive discussions with the A-League and the AFL."