AJ
Years ago

Tigers to play GF in Hobart- If they make it

The Age
Stephen Howell

MELBOURNE Tigers will be forced to play their deciding grand final games in Hobart if they make the National Basketball League championship series this season.

Club director Seamus McPeake said yesterday he had tentatively booked the Derwent Entertainment Centre in Hobart for whichever of matches three, four and five are Tigers' home games.

This is because preparation for the Commonwealth Games will close the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Parkville, known as the Cage, and all other suitable venues. The Cage is available for games one (February 24) and two (February 26), but not for the March 1, 3 and 5 matches.

McPeake was in Hobart yesterday for meetings with the Derwent centre's management and to promote the club's December 21 home game there against Adelaide 36ers.

"In all fairness, the Commonwealth Games are a unique situation," he said. "But it doesn't sit well with me because it will still be 10 days until they start. (Premier Steve) Bracks and the State Government need to do something about that."

McPeake said that if the club made the grand final it still wanted to play all its home quota of games in Melbourne.

Why couldn't they play in Dandenong. Its still in Melboune and has been used for the WNBL final the past two years.

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Bo Hamburger
Years ago

Heck, if we don't make it, why don't we give them the Dome ...(bad pun coming) free of charge?

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EC
Years ago

In fairness to the Tigers, all their GF games will be away games as Hobart is not home. It won't bring the home crowd. That's an unfortunate situation for them, one that should be given better consideration considering they are playing most of their regular season home games there. Use of the SHNC for the Commonwealth Games should only be booked for after the end of NBL season, after all the NBL season started earlier to be completed before the Commonwealth Games.

Can you imagine the outrage if for whatever reason an AFL grand final could not be played at the MCG.

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AJ
Years ago

That is right but in Melboune more people care about the AFL then the NBL. Collingwood draws more Sponsors than the entire NBL and has draws more people in three games than the Tigers can in 16.

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EC
Years ago

AJ what you say is true, but if that is the reason why there is not the same level of consideration for basketball even though it is a sport at the same national level as Football, then the government has a lot to answer for. They need to take a lot of the responsibility for this situation. In taking over the SNHC for the Commonwealth Games even though it is before they officially start is a direct admission that they don't give this sport the respect it deserves.

This is also reflected in the fact that up until now the SA Government has not agreed to write off the debt BASA has with the Dome. By writing off this debt, it would allow the sport to flourish. It would allow more $'s for advertising and promoting the sport properly. Do you know that I have not yet seen the TV commercial featuring Willie & Dusty. Why not have the money to be able to advertise in prime time.

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AJ
Years ago

Well don't worry about not seing that TV add because in my opinon it was a waste of money. Action is what basketball is known for so why don't they have an add with some action in it. Insted they have Dusty and Willie talking about who great it will be if they can get a big crowd. I'd advertise in the papers (havn't seen a single add yet this season) and on the radio before i placed a costly add on TV. At present time the NBL has to earn respect, not think it will just recive it.

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Hoops

Tigers to play GF in Hobart- If they make it

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