Isaac
Years ago
Sydney to host NBL All-Stars, Dec 27
Dec 27 in Sydney it is:
SYDNEY WINS RIGHT TO HOST ALL-STAR GAME
In a coup for New South Wales, the National Basketball League (NBL) today announced that the Sydney Kings have won the right to host the All-Star Game for the 2005/06 Philips Championship season.
The Kings will host the league's premier showcase event on Tuesday, December 27 2005 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
"With Sydney being very much on a sporting high following Grand Final wins for the Sydney Swans and West Tigers, we are delighted to announce the Harbour City will also see the best of the best from around the Philips Championship in action on the one court at the All-Star Game," said NBL Commissioner Rick Burton.
"The home of the three-time reigning champion Sydney Kings is the perfect location to hold the All-Star Game. Sydney put together a truly impressive bid that promises to offer fans a fantastic spectacle."
The Kings won the right to host the Philips Championship's annual marquee event over strong bids from two other clubs.
Incoming Kings Chief Executive Officer Simon Allatson said that the timing of the event meant that the All-Star Game would enhance the already strong late-December sporting calendar around Sydney.
"We already have the start of the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race in that post-Christmas period and this is another opportunity for us to focus sporting attention on the city of Sydney," said Allatson.
"This is undoubtedly a major coup for the Kings and for Sydney and we plan to use this opportunity to help build on the success our club has enjoyed over the past three seasons.
"We plan quite a few surprises around this year's All-Star Game and we promise to make it a spectacular event to remember for the city," added Allatson.
The All-Star Game was successfully re-instituted by the NBL in 2004 in Melbourne and last season reached new heights when the event was hosted by Townsville.
The format for the Sydney All-Star Game will be unveiled in the coming weeks but the NBL has revealed that fans will once again be able to participate in the selection of the teams.
To coincide with the announcement of Sydney as the All-Star host city, FOX SPORTS will be running a special fan competition on its popular 'NBL Wrap' highlights program, which returns to air this Thursday at the special time of 9pm on FOX SPORTS 1.
The competition will offer fans the chance to win two return flights from anywhere in Australia to the All-Star Game courtesy of Virgin Blue, accommodation at the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour, two tickets to the game on December 27 and a pair of Philips 'Shoqboxes' (mp3 players with speakers valued at RRP $279 each). Fans should tune in to 'NBL Wrap' to find out how to enter.
