The Otago Nuggets will have one less thing to worry about when they hit the court this year.
They will still have to hit their defensive marks and put the ball through the hoop in their comeback season after a year out, but the Dunedin City Council will foot the $27,000 rental bill for the use of the hardwood at the Edgar Centre.
Basketball Otago chief executive Mark Rogers yesterday said he was still waiting for written confirmation but understood the grant was a done deal.
"My understanding is the council has approved the grant but I have not got any confirmation.
"I expect it in the next couple of days," he said.
Basketball Otago asked the council for a $50,000 grant from the 2009 annual plan budget to cover the costs of venue hire and the entry fee for the 2010 National Basketball League (NBL).
The council declined the grant but said it would consider a future request to cover the venue hire should the Nuggets' bid to re-enter the league be successful.
After 18 consecutive years in the NBL, Basketball Otago decided not to enter a team in the 2009 tournament, citing an unwillingness to continue propping up the cash-strapped franchise at the expense of grassroots programmes.
But with the help of new naming-rights sponsor OceanaGold, the franchise made a successful bid to re-enter the league.
"We're very pleased the city has been able to support the Nuggets franchise," Rogers said.
"From where I sit, it is recognition of the value of having a franchise in the city that the council is willing to help support it via a venue subsidy for the Edgar Centre."
Basketball Otago received a grant of $24,000 in 2008 to cover the cost of venue hire.
The Nuggets will play nine home games, for which venue hire is estimated at $22,000.
The remaining $5000 will go towards training costs.
