NBL: Taipans face road start as venue works delay revealed
The Cairns Taipans’ preparations for NBL21 have copped a hammer blow with their home venue all but ruled out for the first half of the upcoming season.
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THE Cairns Taipans’ preparations for NBL21 have copped a hammer blow with their home venue all but ruled out for the first half of the upcoming season.
Queensland’s Minister for Sport Mick De Brenni said work at the venue will not be completed until February 4.
TAIPANS RULE OUT RELOCATION FOR NBL21
The season is expected to run from December until April.
During a tour of the site on Wednesday, Housing, Public Works and Sports Minister Mick de Brenni said sporting codes had been forced to become flexible with their schedules during the COVID-19 crisis, which was also the reason for the 65-day delay to the Snakes’ home.
HOW THE TAIPANS COULD WORK AROUND CONVENTION CENTRE DELAY
It’s understood De Brenni, who declared he would work with the club and the NBL to find a solution, met with Taipans management on Wednesday night and again on Thursday.
In a statement, the Taipans said they continued to work with State Govenment “on a solution for the upcoming season, based on the current renovation schedule and the anticipated NBL tip-off date of December 3,”.
“While it is expected the delay will have some impacts on the home fixtures, the club is working with all parties involved – the Department of Housing and Public Works, Lendlease, the NBL and the Convention Centre – on a daily basis, to ensure the best possible outcome for Taipans fans and the city of Cairns,” the statement read.
Taipans president Troy Stone has said there are ways the club could work around the delay, but the state government must come to the party.
Taipans legend Alex Loughton told the Cairns Post last month he feared the Cairns economy would be among the biggest victims if the Taipans are unable to play their NBL home games at the Cairns Convention Centre.
“If nothing is done, it could spell the end of the Taipans,” Loughton said. “We might not get back from that.”
Millions of dollars are injected into the local economy, primarily through accommodation, restaurants and bars, during the summer, which is outside of peak tourist season.
“This isn’t a Taipans issue, it’s not a basketball issue; this is a Cairns issue,” he said.
Taipans fans recently lodged a petition with about 2000 signatures calling for the State Government to find a solution which would allow the Snakes to remain at their home court.
Both the club and NBL have been lobbying the State Government to provide a solution which would allow the Taipans to play at their home court.
Queensland’s Minister for Sport Mick De Brenni said work at the venue will not be completed until February 4. The season is expected to run from December until April.
It’s understood De Brenni met with the Taipans last night and will do so again today, as they work to find a solution.
NBL owner Larry Kestelman has previously said it would be a disaster if the Snakes didn’t play in Cairns, with Taipans management pushing for a shift to the work timeline to allow for the club to play on its home court.
The NBL is understood to be unhappy with the stand-off over the venue and talks are continuing with the club.
Originally published as NBL: Taipans face road start as venue works delay revealed