What is the Ignite Cup? NBL’s new tournament explained

NBL26 will bring with it more games, as well as the opportunity for Melbourne United to secure some more silverware with the addition of the new Ignite Cup In-Season Tournament.

Each team will play four extra games on Wednesday evenings across the season, two at home* and two on the road, which will both count towards the Ignite Cup standings, as well as the regular NBL26 standings.

The winning team will still be awarded three points for securing the overall victory, while teams will also earn one point for each quarter they win. In instances where both clubs score an equal number of points in a quarter, a half-point (0.5) will be awarded to each.

The two teams sitting on top of the Ignite Cup ladder at season's end will then meet in the Ignite Cup Final, a standalone matchup with $300,000 of prize money headed towards the winner.

Our Ignite Cup schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday 8 October, 7:30pm - United @ Sydney Kings - Location TBC (Away)

• Wednesday 5 November, 7:30pm - United @ Illawarra Hawks - WIN Entertainment Centre (Away)

• Wednesday 7 January, 7:30pm - United v Cairns Taipans - Location TBC (Home*)

• Wednesday 21 January, 5:30pm - United v Brisbane Bullets - Location TBC (Home*)

*The Ignite Cup games classified as "Home" will sit outside of our NBL26 Membership Packages, and will be available to be purchased at a later date once the venue has been confirmed.