Isaac
Years ago
Free United-LSU game featuring Ben Simmons
Nice work by United.
Victorian basketball fans will be treated to a unique preseason game when Louisiana State University (LSU) and projected number one NBA draft pick Melbourne-born Ben Simmons, take on CTI Melbourne United in a celebration of basketball next month.
CTI Melbourne United and Basketball Victoria will host LSU at Hisense Arena in an exhibition game on August 22, with fans being given the opportunity to watch Simmons and his teammates by registering online for tickets for free thanks to the support of Dodo Power and Gas, NSR, Melbourne and Olympic Parks and the State Government.
"We are delighted to be able to work with CTI Melbourne United and the Victorian Government to bring such an exciting basketball event to Melbourne for all of the Victorian Basketball Community to enjoy," CEO of Basketball Victoria Nick Honey said.
“Basketball Victoria see this as a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the Victorian development pathway and provide an opportunity to showcase basketball talent of a world class standard."
“This is potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity for Victorians to see such an exciting athlete in Ben Simmons hit the floor here in his home town of Melbourne. We encourage all of the basketball fraternity along with the wider sporting community to come out and be a part of such an exciting event.”
It's a homecoming for Simmons who was born in Melbourne and has represented Australia in their silver-medal winning 2012 FIBA Under 17 World Championships - a performance that saw him invited to the United States to be a part of the elite USA basketball camp program. As a result, Simmons was part of the Boomers camp in 2012 and 2013 and played his first game for the Aussies at the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championships.
Simmons’ links to Melbourne continue with his father Dave Simmons coming to play for the Melbourne Tigers in 1989 and continuing with Melbourne until 1996.
CEO of CTI Melbourne United Vince Crivelli said he was excited to be able to bring LSU to Melbourne and play against top-class college athletes, as well as offer something really special to basketball fans in Melbourne.
“This is a brilliant opportunity for not just basketball fans, but sports fans in general, to see one of the best athletes ever to come out of Australia in action, and a team that has won two conference championships and a national championship in the last ten years. It is spectacular world-class basketball with many of the players set for long NBA careers,” he said.
“For us at CTI Melbourne United, we are excited to bring this game here and have no doubt that tickets will be snapped up quickly. We know the excitement for basketball in Melbourne is huge, and the game-day experience and entertainment product offering at CTI Melbourne United is second to none in Australia. We’ll be delivering that same product when we play against LSU and giving everyone a taste of what we can do.”
The game truly is a celebration of Melbourne’s impressive basketball talent with LSU also bringing Melbourne-raised Associate Head Coach, David Patrick, a former NBL Rookie of the Year and now in his third season coaching with LSU.
“In conjunction with Basketball Victoria, CTI Melbourne United would like to thank the State Government and Sports Minister John Eren who recognised the significance of the event and has helped, through the support of Melbourne and Olympic Parks, to make it possible for Melbourne basketball fans to attend this game free of charge.”
The LSU tour is brought to you by CTI Melbourne United, Basketball Victoria, Melbourne and Olympic Parks, the State Government, and sponsored by Dodo Power and Gas.
Entries to the public ballot will open from 10 am Wednesday, 5 August 2015.
From 10 am Monday 3 August 2015, Basketball Victoria community will be exclusively invited to request tickets via an email. A limited number of these General Admission tickets will be allocated to the BV community on a first serve basis. Once the ticket allocation is exhausted or the pre-purchase window has closed, remaining fans will enter a ballot for the remaining GA tickets.
At least 8,000 tickets will be available for allocation through this process.
General Admission tickets will be provided to the general public without charge through a ballot conducted on Friday 14 August 2015.
General Admission tickets do not guarantee entry to the game – on the day doors open at 5:30pm and we encourage coming early to ensure you get a seat.
Reserved seats will also be available to CTI Melbourne United members whose membership is current as from 15 Aug, 2015.
