Of course the games being played on fox. Looks whos playing

THE KINGS

Kings need to focus on their members. The Pigs are struggling, so the Kings need to do everything to build their membership and moving 25% of the home season away is a bad idea, in my opinion.

Might make them a bit of money in the short term, but if it annoys existing fans, they're underestimating the value in those people who are regular attendees.

If it is played at Belconnen. The court is good. Enough room for supporters and enough space around the courts.
Good surface and rings with no dead spots.

adding to my previous post, it would piss me off if any of the home games from my team of choice were played at another stadium.

Except of course if they gave me a rebate, or a set of steak knives.

I thought that the only regular attendees of the Kings were part of BG's 'coaching staff' and that stupid lion of course ;)

Good topic.

Let's put it this way, the good folk of the Territory are gagging for some quality NBL basketball. Yes, we have two good SEABL teams (AIS / Gunners) but the next step up is huge.

I think the game will and should be played at the AIS Arena. Belconnen is a decent court, but not NBL worthy. Whilst there is some room for spectators at Belco, you could only probably fit 500-700 people in, and even then it's gonna be tight. I don't think Belco has the TV issue covered. If you want a glimpse of the court at Belco, the link is (and you'll see what I mean about spectator comfort)

http://www.canberragunners.asn.au/index.cfm?event=showGallery

The other option would be the Southern X Club down in Tuggeranong (the Caps sometimes play there). Nice courts, but I'm just not sure of the spectator issue again. More seats than Belco, but possibly not enough.

I think you'll find that people will come purely due to being a NBL game. The Kings are hoping the 'novelty' and 'intrigue' factor play a part and assists in drawing a crowd. It's been a few years since the Cannons folded and we've lacked some top notch ball in the Capital.

The one issue that may cause some problems is that it's the Sydney Kings. These is some rivalry between Canberrians and the morons up the Highway, but nothing like the SA / Vic thing. I would of preferred the Hawks to come, but hey, I'll take Boy Goorj and his band of merry Boomers.

Basically I'll be going, purely because it's a game of NBL, and it doesn't hurt that Ingles and Holmes (from my point of view) are suiting up, not to mention that useless turd called Heal is playing against his old squad and coach. It's gonna be an interesting game.

I do understand the Kings attempting to get into Canberra. Hey, if the AFL Kangaroo's can call Canberra a second home, then so can the Kings. It's an untapped market at the moment.

The funny thing about Canberrians is they jump all over a winner, but as soon as the club struggles, the fans drop off. When the Raiders will ripping apart the NRL you couldn't get a ticket, same as when Phil was here and the Cannons were winning, getting a ticket was next to impossible. It's currently happening with the ACT Brumbies. Support a winner, but they don't hang around for the tough times, hence the demise of the Cannons (there are other issues which I won't get into).

Overall, a good idea and I'll think people will be surprised one way or another about the support that will be generated.

TR,

Great write up, will look forward to hearing a recap from you after the game.

Do you think that Canberra is ready to host another NBL team? Or do you think it is still one of those things where they will fold as soon as the going gets tough?

Not too sure about another NBL team in Berra. Yes I'd love to see a team here, but Canberra has a lack of corporate power as far a team sponsorship goes, and I'm not entirely sure if a club could be sustained over a period of time.

At times the Brumbies have had issues in obtaining sponsers, and they are nearly in the finals each year and arguable Australia's best Super 14/12 side in the past 5 years. There is talk they that could have to potentially relocate to Melbourne for a bigger piece of the corporate pie.

The Raiders have lacked a huge sponsor for the past years. Sorry, but Canberra Milk isn't gonna win any fans.

The money just isn't here in Canberra for a private sporting enterprise to be finanical over a decent length of time. All the available money is tied up with the Raiders and Brumbies.

Probably the best bet would be for the AIS to step up and play with the big boys. The girls do it, I can't see why the lads can't. At least the team would be funded by the Federal Government to a degree. Unsure how'd you go with imports, I probably say they wouldn't run them due to cost. They already play in the SEABL so they travel. They could possibly get Govt rates for transport (considering the Tute is funded by our taxpayer money, technically making it a Government Department), plus give exposure to the young lads. They'd probably get flogged, but hey, experience is experience.

Over the past 5-7 years since I've been here, the ACT Comets (cricket) have folded, the Cannons have gone under, the Canberra Cosmos (soccer) has died, and the major factor is corporate sponsorship.

The only thing that thrives in Canberra is the porn trade.

go Fishwick!
what a place....

TR any chance you could talk Goorj into letting you improve the Kings foot speed by placing them in the shooting range whilst you trial different weapons at them?

"Probably the best bet would be for the AIS to step up and play with the big boys. The girls do it, I can't see why the lads can't."

Putting 16-18 year old girls in a senior national competition works because their physical development is near on finished by that time.

The same can't be said for the guys. Just physically, there's no chance an AIS team could compete with NBL sides. They're much better off sticking with the SEABL competition, IMO.

On the other side of things, I think the AIS girls side would be relatively unchallenged playing SEABL.

TR just made the observation that it has all gone down hill in Canberra since you arrived....hmmm i see the link here....one city at a time?

The AIS representing Canberra in the NBL would not work. as TR says "The funny thing about Canberrians is they jump all over a winner, but as soon as the club struggles, the fans drop off". How long would the AIS get support from the Canberra fans when it is likely that they will lose most of their games? They do not want to see a squad in training for the next step in their basketball careers. They want the real competitive thing.

One of the local rugby league teams that has flourished over the last ten years are the Fishwyck Ferrets.

Sponsored by Frenchys' Adult Emporium.

Sturty, the Fyshick Ferrents went belly up. They were taken over by Ron Jeremy and became the Fyshwisk Felchers......

Their cheer leaders ROCK!!!! A pole is a wonderful piece of equipment and vastly under used by the majority of cheers squads in Australia.

Just wondering what the turnout for the game was like? Atmosphere and night in general?