CQUniversity Cairns Taipans

Name

CQUniversity Cairns Taipans

Legal name

Taipans Basketball Incorporated

Website

https://taipans.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Sports / Basketball Franchise

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Basketball Leagues (MPAKAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Team Sports Equipment & Uniforms Retail (CRAMABAE)

Keywords

• Professional basketball team
• NBL franchise operations
• Season membership sales
• Sports merchandise retail
• Corporate sponsorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairns

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Single-game tickets sold online or over the phone prior to game day through the Ticketek-powered platform at tickets.taipans.com. Games held at Cairns Convention Centre.
2. Season Memberships: Season memberships (2026/27) covering 14 regular-season home games, sold online or in person at Taipans HQ. Memberships available with full payment or monthly instalment plan (first payment 20%, remaining divided monthly, $14.95 transaction fee applies). Renewal deadline for seat retention is 31 March 2026.
3. Merchandise Sales: Official merchandise sold through the Snakes Store e-commerce platform (snakesstore.com), including replica jerseys and apparel.
4. Corporate Sponsorship: Naming rights, major sponsors, community partners, and suppliers provide corporate revenue through multi-year sponsorship agreements. Sponsors include Kenfrost Homes (naming rights), CQUniversity (Official High-Performance Partner), and over a dozen major sponsors across hospitality, automotive, media, and retail sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Cairns Taipans field a men's professional basketball team that competes in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL). The club sells access to live home games through season memberships (14-game packages) and single-game tickets, distributes official merchandise via the Snakes Store, and delivers community basketball programs (TAG, TIP, GameTime). Revenue is supplemented by naming rights, major sponsorships, and community partnerships.

Product overview

The Cairns Taipans operate as a professional NBL basketball franchise offering live game experiences through season memberships and single-game tickets, supported by merchandise sales via the Snakes Store. The organization runs community programs including the Taipans Academy for girls, the Indigenous Program (TIP), and GameTime school visits. The team competes in the NBL with 14 regular-season home games at the Cairns Convention Centre, with a development pathway through the NBL1 North Cairns Marlins competition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NBL Basketball Games

Quantifiable outcome

• $140,000 raised for IFYS Foster Care over 10 years through Blackout jersey auctions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CQUniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial High-Performance Partner of the Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans. CQUniversity sponsors the team's official injury reports and provides academic/high-performance support to the club.
• Kenfrost HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaming Rights Sponsor of the Cairns Taipans. The team is officially known as the Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans.
• IFYS Foster CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner collaborating on the Blackout jersey initiative. 146 Blackout jerseys auctioned over 10 years raising $140,000 for IFYS Foster Care. The Blackout jersey partnership highlights the club's commitment to community connection beyond basketball.
• Pride in SportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting inclusion and LGBTQIA+ initiatives. Listed as a community partner alongside IFYS Foster Care.
• NBL (National Basketball League)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Cairns Taipans compete in the NBL as a franchise member. The NBL provides broadcast deals (ESPN, Disney+), league structure, scheduling, and marketing support. Taipans participate in NBL programs including NBL Next Stars, NBL1, and 3x3 Hustle.
• Ticketek / vivenucoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform provider powering the ticket sales and membership platform at tickets.taipans.com. Cairns Taipans uses vivenu's ticketing technology (licensed to the club) for ticket sales, membership management, and the secondary market resale function.
• Mount Peter EstateminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. Mount Peter Estate is a sponsor in the agriculture/property sector.
• Pullman Cairns InternationalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. Pullman Cairns International is a luxury hotel in Cairns.
• Reef Hotel CasinominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. Reef Hotel Casino is a major entertainment/hospitality venue in Cairns.
• Trinity Auto GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. Trinity Auto Group is an automotive dealership in the Cairns region.
• Cairns Regional CouncilminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. The local government authority for Cairns.
• Status SignsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. A signage company.
• Star 102.7minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. A local radio station in Cairns.
• The Chambers (Cairns)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. A hospitality/entertainment venue in Cairns.
• Novotel Cairns Oasis ResortminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. A hotel resort in Cairns.
• 4CAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. A local radio station in Cairns.
• Ollies ItalianminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. A restaurant in Cairns.
• Ela Next DoorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Major Sponsor. A restaurant/hospitality venue in Cairns.
• Spectres Australia / Team RainbowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Taipans endorsed the launch of the Cairns Spectres Pride Basketball team, supporting Spectres Australia and Team Rainbow in fostering an inclusive basketball community in Far North Queensland. The initiative includes a 'Play with Pride' Open Day at Cairns Basketball.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Melbourne United: Melbourne-based NBL franchise; operates with similar matchday, membership, merchandise, and sponsorship revenue lines as the Taipans.
• Illawarra Hawks: Wollongong-based NBL franchise; operates in a regional Australian market similar to Cairns, with shared league economics and broadcast exposure.
• Perth Wildcats: Most successful NBL franchise and direct league peer. Competes in the same national broadcast ecosystem and faces the Taipans in NBL regular-season matchups.
• Brisbane Bullets: NBL franchise based in Queensland, Australia. Closest geographic peer to the Taipans, competing in the same league with a similar mid-tier market profile and revenue model.
• South East Melbourne Phoenix: NBL franchise based in South East Melbourne; newer market entrant with similar matchday-driven revenue model and direct competition with the Taipans on the NBL schedule.
• Tasmania JackJumpers: Newer NBL expansion franchise based in a smaller market (Tasmania). Comparable to the Taipans in market size, regional positioning, and community-driven model.
• Adelaide 36ers: Adelaide-based NBL franchise competing in the same league with comparable ticketing, membership, and sponsorship revenue streams.
• Sydney Kings: Sydney-based NBL franchise competing in the same league with a similar ticketing, membership, and sponsorship-driven revenue stack.
• New Zealand Breakers: Trans-Tasman NBL franchise based in Auckland. Direct competitor in the same league and faces the Taipans in NBL regular-season play, with similar membership-driven revenue.

Broad incumbents

• Harlem Globetrotters: Long-established basketball entertainment franchise. Broader incumbent in basketball-based live entertainment; comparable in combining live events, merchandising, and brand-led touring, but operates at a much larger global scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CairnsTaipans
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OfficialTaipansTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/cairnstaipans
• Instagraminstagram.com/cairnstaipans
• TikToktiktok.com/@taipans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cairns-taipans

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CQUniversity Cairns Taipans