Rod Laver in the mix for Tigers

The NBL could make a return to Rod Laver Arena with a Boxing Day blockbuster next season.

NBL commissioner Rick Burton is keen for the Melbourne Tigers to play at least one game in the city's biggest indoor arena as a major promotion for the club and the Philips Championship, hoping it would draw a crowd of more than 10,000.

The Tigers are also keen to return to Rod Laver Arena, their home court from 1992 to 2000, for a regular-season game or as the host of the NBL All-Star game as a Boxing Day showcase.

The Boxing Day game was popular for several seasons in Melbourne, especially when the Victoria Titans twice played with the roof open at Rod Laver Arena and Vodafone Arena.

"There is interest to do it," Tigers part-owner Seamus McPeake said yesterday.

"We've just got to make sure we get the right opponent and get it right."

If the Tigers made the best-of-five grand final series this season against a team like the crowd-pulling Sydney Kings, they would consider moving one of the games to Rod Laver arena, but next season is more likely.

After hosting the 2004 All-Star game, which this year will be played in Townsville, the Tigers will also look at using Boxing Day to stage the 2006 All-Star game at Rod Laver Arena.

The biggest drawback to staging a game at Rod Laver Arena, would be the cost and venue availability given the Australian Open tennis tournament starts on January 17.

But if the NBL agreed to back the move, and the venue was available, the Tigers will work to make it happen.