The Sal's NBL 2020 schedule has been released, with League GM Justin Nelson saying it is "focused on the fans and the league's growing television audience."
The season will feature 75 games, including semi-finals and the grand final which will move away from the previous Final 4 format at one venue and instead be played on the home court of the highest placed teams.
The league will also soon release its broadcast schedule with Nelson stating the plan is to broadcast all 75 games.
"We want to broadcast every game in 2020. We want every basketball fan and sports lover to be able to watch every Sal's NBL game," said Nelson.
"We have a great partnership in place with SKY Sports, and we also showed games last season on Stuff and the Tribe Sports App. We're finalising the schedule with all of our partners right now.
"This is a high calibre league in a country that can't get enough of basketball, so we want to make our games available to everyone, be it at the stadium or watching away from the stadium.
"The broadcast schedule will be the best the league has ever seen."
The new season will feature eight teams with the Franklin Bulls set to step into the league, while the competition's new Competitive Balance System is also set to be a hot talking point.
The schedule will have games on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday each round, the Saints will also play two Monday night games in June, while the league will break for the inaugural 3X3 National Cup at ILT Stadium Southland in late May.
"It's an exciting schedule, the action simply doesn't stop. From Easter weekend all the way through to the end of July we will see Sal's NBL games coming thick and fast," Nelson added.
"We can't wait to bring the 3X3 National Cup to life as well."
For the first time the league will also introduce a Rivalry Round, which is slated for Round 4.
"Personally I think everyone is a rival, that's the beauty of sport, but we wanted to add a bit of spice and take the competitiveness amongst the fans in particular to a higher level. Hopefully rivalry round is something we can build on," Nelson said.
Some standout games include the Hawks hosting the Saints to start the season (April 9) in an anticipated 2019 Grand Final re-match, the Hawks welcome the Bulls on Anzac Day, the Jets and Saints will have a stand-alone game on the last weekend of May, while the Saints will deliver two Monday night games in June against the Bulls and Hawks.
There's also a chance the round 2 game between the Rams and Giants will be played at Horncastle Arena in front of over 4,000 fans.
"There's a lot to look forward to, it will be a very competitive season," said Nelson, adding "I encourage everyone to grab a membership or season ticket, support your team and enjoy the action."
Round 1
Thursday April 9 @ 7pm / Giants vs Jets / Trafalgar Centre
Thursday April 9 @ 7:30pm / Hawks vs Saints / Pettigrew Green Arena
Friday April 10 @ 7:00pm / Bulls vs Sharks / Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre
Saturday April 11 @ 7pm / Rams vs Airs / Cowles Stadium
Sunday April 12 @ 2pm / Jets vs Sharks / The Ballroom
Sunday April 12 @ 4pm / Saints vs Airs / TSB Bank Arena
Round 2
Thursday April 16 @ 7:30pm / Saints vs Sharks / TSB Bank Arena
Friday April 17 @ 7pm / Bulls vs Airs / Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre
Friday April 17 @ 7pm / Rams vs Giants / Cowles Stadium
Friday April 17 @ 7pm / Hawks vs Sharks / Pettigrew Green Arena
Saturday April 18 @ 7pm / Giants vs Airs / Trafalgar Centre
Sunday April 19 @ 2pm / Jets vs Bulls / The Ballroom
Round 3
Thursday April 23 @ 7:30pm / Rams vs Jets / Cowles Stadium
Friday April 24 @ 7pm / Sharks vs Jets / ILT Stadium Southland
Friday April 24 @ 7pm / Saints vs Giants / TSB Bank Arena
Saturday April 25 @ 7pm / Hawks vs Bulls / Pettigrew Green Arena
Sunday April 26 @ 7pm / Airs vs Hawks / TSB Stadium
Round 4 (Rivalry Round)
Thursday April 30 @ 7:30pm / Saints vs Rams / TSB Bank Arena
Friday May 1 @ 7pm / Airs vs Bulls / TSB Stadium
Saturday May 2 @ 7pm / Sharks vs Giants / ILT Stadium Southland
Saturday May 2 @ 7pm / Hawks vs Jets / Pettigrew Green Arena
Sunday May 3 @ 4pm / Rams vs Sharks / Cowles Stadium
Round 5
Thursday May 7 @ 7pm / Saints vs Airs / TSB Bank Arena
Thursday May 7 @ 7:30pm / Sharks vs Hawks / ILT Stadium Southland
Friday May 8 @ 7pm / Bulls vs Saints / Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre
Saturday May 9 @ 7pm / Airs vs Giants / TSB Stadium
Saturday May 9 @ 7pm / Rams vs Hawks / Cowles Stadium
Sunday May 10 @ 4pm / Jets vs Giants / The Ballroom
Round 6
Thursday May 14 @ 7:30pm / Giants vs Saints / Trafalgar Centre
Friday May 15 @ 7pm / Bulls vs Rams / Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre
Friday May 15 @ 7pm / Airs vs Sharks / TSB Stadium
Saturday May 16 @ 7pm / Hawks vs Rams / Pettigrew Green Arena
Sunday May 17 @ 2pm / Jets vs Sharks / The Ballroom
Round 7
Thursday May 21 @ 7:30pm / Rams vs Saints / Cowles Stadium
Friday May 22 @ 7pm / Sharks vs Saints / ILT Stadium Southland
Friday May 22 @ 7pm / Bulls vs Giants / Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre
Saturday May 23 @ 7pm / Airs vs Bulls / TSB Stadium
Sunday May 24 @ 2pm / Hawks vs Giants / Pettigrew Green Arena
Sunday May 24 @ 4pm / Jets vs Airs / The Ballroom
3X3 National Cup
Thursday May 28 / ILT Stadium Southland / 6pm - 10:30pm
Friday May 29 / ILT Stadium Southland / 1pm - 10:30pm
Round 8
Sunday May 31 @ 4pm / Jets vs Saints / The Ballroom
Thursday June 4 @ 7:30pm / Giants vs Hawks / Trafalgar Centre
Friday June 5 @ 7pm / Jets vs Rams / The Ballroom
Saturday June 6 @ 7pm / Sharks vs Bulls / ILT Stadium Southland
Sunday June 7 @ 2pm / Airs vs Rams / TSB Stadium
Round 9
Thursday June 11 @ 7:30pm / Bulls vs Hawks / Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre
Friday June 12 @ 7pm / Sharks vs Airs / ILT Stadium Southland
Sunday June 14 @ 2pm / Giants vs Rams / Trafalgar Centre
Sunday June 14 @ 4pm / Jets vs Hawks / The Ballroom
Monday June 15 @ 7pm / Saints vs Bulls / TSB Bank Arena
Round 10
Thursday June 18 @ 7:30pm / Giants vs Jets / Trafalgar Centre
Friday June 19 @ 7pm / Bulls vs Giants / Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre
Saturday June 20 @ 7pm / Hawks vs Airs / Pettigrew Green Arena
Saturday June 20 @ 7pm / Sharks vs Saints / ILT Stadium
Sunday June 21 @ 4pm / Jets vs Airs / The Ballroom
Sunday June 21 @ 4pm / Rams vs Sharks / Cowles Stadium
Monday June 22 @ 7pm / Saints vs Hawks / TSB Bank Arena
Round 11
Thursday June 25 @ 7:30pm / Sharks vs Bulls / ILT Stadium Southland
Friday June 26 @ 7pm / Airs vs Jets / TSB Stadium
Saturday June 27 @ 7pm / Giants vs Bulls / Trafalgar Centre
Saturday June 27 @ 7pm / Rams vs Hawks / Cowles Stadium
Sunday June 28 @ 4pm / Saints vs Jets / TSB Bank Arena
Round 12
Thursday July 2 @ 7:30pm / Airs vs Saints / TSB Stadium
Friday July 3 @ 7pm / Bulls vs Hawks / Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre
Friday July 3 @ 7pm / Sharks vs Rams / ILT Stadium Southland
Saturday July 4 @ 7pm / Hawks vs Jets / Pettigrew Green Arena
Sunday July 5 @ 2pm / Giants vs Rams / Trafalgar Centre
Round 13
Thursday July 9 @ 7:30pm / Airs vs Rams / TSB Stadium
Friday July 10 @ 7pm / Bulls vs Jets / Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre
Friday July 10 @ 7pm / Hawks vs Saints / Pettigrew Green Arena
Saturday July 11 @ 7pm / Giants vs Sharks / Trafalgar Centre
Saturday July 11 @ 7pm / Rams vs Bulls / Cowles Stadium
Sunday July 12 @ 4pm / Saints vs Giants / TSB Bank Arena
Finals
Semi Final 1 / Thursday July 16 @ 7:30pm
Semi Final 2 / Friday July 17 @ 7:30pm
Grand Final / Friday July 24 @ 7:30pm