The Auckland-based franchise played a pre-season game against the Wollongong Hawks in the city in September 2012 in front of a capacity crowd of 2900.
But with sales for the October 2 fixture sitting at about 650, Crawford has gone on a charm offensive to reassure the game's promoter, Promo Sports, and has issued a call to arms to the region's basketball fans to support the game or risk losing future games.
''It is early days, I suppose, in terms of how the Dunedin market works.
"They traditionally buy late ... because they know they can generally get a seat right up until that last moment, so they don't buy early,'' Crawford said.
''Unfortunately, when a promoter is looking at how sales are tracking, they get a bit nervous when they have quite a high risk exposure.
"He [Greg Shackell, Promo Sports director] is looking at how it went a couple of years ago and they are well under that.
''I've been trying to reassure him that sales will happen but ultimately I can't guarantee that, so it is up to the Dunedin public and the keen basketball people to show him they are keen by perhaps getting in a bit earlier and buy now rather than wait until the second-to-last day.''
Shackell said it was too late to shift the event but expressed concern.
''At this stage we've just got to get the people behind it.''
''We had a packed-out crowd the first time the Breakers played there, so it is strange where it is compared to where it was in 2012.
''Ticket prices have not gone up but I can assure you the cost of putting it on has gone up considerably.''
Shackell said he would need a crowd of about 2000 to break even.
The game should be a good spectacle.
The Breakers have promised a full-strength roster featuring star players Mika Vukona, Tom Abercrombie and Cedric Jackson.
Coach Dean Vickerman has said in the past how important the fixture was in getting his team up to speed before its ANBL campaign tips off against the Perth Wildcats on October 10.
''Once you lose an event like this, it won't be back,'' Crawford said.
''He has shown faith in us by coming back. But if he sees Dunedin is not a place to come, then he won't come back.
''There are other markets that will jump at it. Invercargill would, for example, with their new stadium down there.
"We don't get many high-profile basketball or netball games these days, so we have to make the most of it really.''
Crawford felt part of the problem was Basketball Otago was not able promote the match through the clubs as it had in the past.
BBO had lost three key staff members since June and was busy trying to get its financial situation back on track.
''They are really lacking that ability to channel sales through their members which was important last time.''
