Basketball chiefs have insisted they will consider a return to the Brighton Centre for a major final.

But they have admitted prospects of coming back have not been helped by a disappointing turnout for Sunday's Trophy final double-header.

British League officials put the attendance for Sunday's showdown between Brighton Bears and Newcastle Eagles at almost 2,500, at least 1,000 down on expectations.

That despite an undercard of Worthing Thunder versus City of Sheffield in the National Trophy.

Thunder fans were in good voice for their team's narrow defeat but Bears' followers never really got going.

Newcastle's following of about 300 earned high marks for their support but arguably did nothing more than should be expected of any set of fans at a final.

Now the league and Bears, who sacrificed a precious home date to stage the finals, are wondering whether it is worth giving it another go.

BBL co-ordinator Andy Webb admitted: "We were disappointed with the turnout. Pre-sales were relatively strong and with two local teams in the finals we hoped for a full venue.

"We rely on home teams at such occasions to be a big enough draw. For some reason that did not happen.

"We will look at coming back. I like it as a venue but there are other areas we need to work on."

Although Webb would not specify, one of those is likely to be lighting quality.

The league have already received one email from an experienced basketball photographer unhappy at having to use flash at a major game.

Photographers at The Argus can sympathise. Chief photographer Simon Dack said: "The lighting at the Centre is low and dull and makes it difficult to photograph unless an event brings its own lighting system."

Playing at a regular league arena meant the game did not feel like a special occasion, especially for Brighton fans.

The Centre is a fabulous location but the feel inside is homely and faded rather than glitzy and prestigious, as is the case at the NIA in Birmingham or the Hallam Arena in Sheffield.

Pre-game entertainment by the And1 basketball display team was disappointing and did little to lift the occasion.

Bears coach Nick Nurse felt his club could have helped more in that respect.

He said: "It didn't have the buzz of our normal games.

"I wanted to do a bit more but they didn't want to make it seem like a Bears thing.

"My thinking is it needed to be a good basketball thing and our usual crew do a great job."

He added: "I would have expected a lot more people but I can't fault our fans for their noise levels.

"I know they are on each other's cases a bit but the team played poorly in the second half and I guess that takes a lot of wind out of their sails.

"I was pretty down on Sunday but, when I got out bed the next day, I rolled up my sleeves and got back to work."

Webb said: "We've got two finals in Birmingham and the third needs to be somewhere significantly different.

"The flexibility of the Brighton Centre helps us and it is a good size for the Trophy final.

"My hope, though, is that eventually we will outgrow a venue like Brighton."