Darwin to play host to Perth Wildcats

Egan · Post by **Egan** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 11:35 pm

Wildcats heading north

DARWIN

THE Perth Wildcats will contest National Basketball League games in Darwin for the next three years, the Northern Territory government announced today.

Starting with a clash against Brisbane on February 18, Perth will play one home game in NT in each of the next three seasons.

The Bullets clash will be the first NBL regular season game ever played in Darwin.

The Wildcats will also hold basketball clinics in Alice Springs and Darwin in a bid to develop the game among the Australian Rules-mad population, NT sports minister John Ah Kit said.

It is also considered another step in the NBL's eventual plan to expand into Asia.

Wildcats executive director Andrew Vlahov said the inclusion of Darwin on the NBL calendar was important to the growth of the game.

"We feel this a real opportunity to develop a partnership with the Northern Territory over the next three years," he said.

"There are some exciting things happening in Darwin that lend themselves to the strategic positioning of the NBL on its way to Asia."

Egans Comment: Darwin for there population are organising critical events, the way this article is stemmed it looks like a team could be based in Darwin in a few years time.

argee · Post by **argee** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 12:16 am

In what venue will these Darwin games be taking place?

ali13 · Post by **ali13** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 8:24 pm

I hear Darwin will also be getting a Rugby league game in October. It will be played between the Junior Kangaroos (Australian under 20's) and the Papua New Guinea Test side.

I wonder where they will play that.

guy41 · Post by **guy41** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 12:05 am

there's a rugby field called optus park, where the darwin mozzies played in the australian rugby shield

Jeffles · Post by **Jeffles** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 9:24 am

A bit off topic but there's a Rugby League field called Richardson Park that has hosted NRL (NSWRL) matches. I think the Northern Territory rugby League has a lease over it.

This is good news for the NBL and Wildcats. Good on Perth for showing somw initiative.

argee · Post by **argee** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 2:13 pm

Meanwhile, where will the Wildcats games be held?!!!!!!!

guy41 · Post by **guy41** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 11:35 pm

Marrarra has an indoor sports complex i think

argee · Post by **argee** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 8:47 am

Any idea of capacity?

Egan · Post by **Egan** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 10:45 pm

Wildcats Take Home Games To Darwin

The BankWest Wildcats will play one home game in Darwin for the next three National Basketball League seasons, it was announced today by Northern Territory Sports Minister John Ah Kit.

The Wildcats will face Brisbane Bullets at Darwin’s Marrara Indoor Stadium on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 in what will be the first NBL regular season game ever played there.

The Wildcats have also committed to basketball clinics in Alice Springs and Darwin as part of the initiative to foster basketball and enhance the league’s national appeal.

“This commitment from the Perth Wildcats is a great demonstration from one of the NBL’s top teams towards spreading the game at the highest level, to all corners of the nation,” Mr Ah Kit said.

“The fact that they are signing up to the next three years shows we are not looking at a one-off event, but a real commitment to the advancement of the code in the Northern Territory. It will be great for local players and fans to get up close to Australia’s best athletes.

“The Wildcats have also committed to running clinics here in Darwin and regional communities to increase the skill levels of young local players.”

Wildcats executive director Andrew Vlahov was delighted the Northern Territory Office of Sport and Recreation made the game happen and said the inclusion of Darwin on the NBL calendar was important to the growth of basketball in Australia.

“We feel this a real opportunity to develop a partnership with the Northern Territory over the next three years,” Vlahov said.

“We look forward to bringing the Darwin people an exciting entertainment package centred around our game with the Bullets, as well as playing our part in the development of basketball with coaching clinics in Alice Springs and Darwin.

“There are some exciting things happening in Darwin that lend themselves to the strategic positioning of the NBL on its way to Asia. We look forward to working with the basketball and business communities of Northern Territory for many years to come.”

The Wildcats open their pre-season campaign against the Bullets in Perth on September 10, 11 and 13th.

Hope this answers your question Argee, Brisbane shall have a good side this year, Black is a tremendous player, the Wildcats lost first game in Cockburn, won the second game at Joondalup and the third game is tonight in Rockingham.

Egan · Post by **Egan** » Sat Sep 13, 2003 11:14 pm

The Marrara Indoor Stadium holds 2000 people found out this evening, not as low as I expected. Hopefully the people of Darwin sell out this match.