Basketball Otago board member Simon Clarke is hopeful 2000
people will turn out for the Nuggets' first home game since
May 2008.
The franchise pulled out of the National Basketball league
last year but is back this season and, if Clarke has read the
community's mood correctly, tonight's game against the
Christchurch Cougars will be well supported.
"I'd be absolutely rapt if we got a crowd of 2000 people,"
Clarke said. "But I'd be more than happy if those people went
back home and told one friend each it was a great night."
The Nuggets had a dreadful trot between 2005-2008, losing 63
of their 72 games. Despite the lean run, the crowds remained
relatively healthy.
It was a bad night when spectator numbers dropped below 1000,
and most evenings from 1000 to 1300 people turned up.
Clarke, who is on the franchise management group, believes
the Nuggets can build on their support base by engaging more
with the basketball community.
"I don't think basketball got too far away from its roots but
we just want to make sure the community feels involved and
gets behind the Nuggets."
Clarke acknowledged the franchise had given many tickets away
in the past, and said it would continue to do so until it
could fill the stadium with paying customers.
"It is only a loss if you can't sell somebody a ticket
because you've given it away. That's when you lose money, but
we are not in that situation."
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