NewsBite

Hurricanes fans queue up for hours in effort to snag BBL final tickets

A sea of purple will barrack on the Hobart Hurricanes in a shot at a historical BBL title with tickets snapped up. Meanwhile, three live sites have been announced for those who missed out.

BBL Grand Final Tickets queue at Ninja Stadium. Picture: Caroline Tan
BBL Grand Final Tickets queue at Ninja Stadium. Picture: Caroline Tan

It took less than 10 minutes for the final allocation of tickets for the BBL decider to sell out.

But those who missed out on tickets can still view the game at one of the three watch parties scatted around the state.

The PW1 Forecourt in Hobart, Launceston’s Silverdome, and Market Square in Devonport will all show the BBL decider.

Final ticket frenzy with Hurricanes fans queuing since 5am

The mad scramble to pick up tickets in the final release of seats for the BBL decider begins on Saturday morning as the Hurricanes players have spoken of the overwhelming support of fans.

More grand final tickets to the BBL Grand Final at Ninja Stadium on Monday go on sale at 10am Saturday, in what is expected to be a sellout.

Oliver, 13 and Grace, 12 with their mum Victoria Moriaty were at Ninja Stadium at 7.15am to queue for BBL Grand Final tickets. Picture: Caroline Tan
Oliver, 13 and Grace, 12 with their mum Victoria Moriaty were at Ninja Stadium at 7.15am to queue for BBL Grand Final tickets. Picture: Caroline Tan

Fans have been queuing since 5am at Ninja Stadium in the hope of snagging tickets to the BBL decider

A Cricket Australia spokesman said that about 2500 tickets would be available from 10am, and the organisation expected they would be snapped up quickly.

Michael Townsend from Howrah, Issac Daniels from New Norfolk, Ben Daniels from Kingston and Dave Daniels Austins Ferry were at Ninja Stadium at 6am to queue for BBL Grand Final tickets. Picture: Caroline Tan
Michael Townsend from Howrah, Issac Daniels from New Norfolk, Ben Daniels from Kingston and Dave Daniels Austins Ferry were at Ninja Stadium at 6am to queue for BBL Grand Final tickets. Picture: Caroline Tan

Dave Daniels had been in line at Ninja Stadium since 6.30am in the hopes of snagging a ticket.

He said he was third in line at the ticket booth.

“I’ve just been sitting around while waiting for 10am to come around,” Daniels said.

“The coffee shop is open, so I’ve had a coffee. Everyone is friendly here.

“I’m pretty confident about getting tickets. The position we’re in is really good, so we should be right.”

When tickets went on sale at 10am, google searches for Ticketek spiked more than 1000 per cent.

How this DJ and sax duo is ‘spicing up’ Hurricanes games

DJ Cane and Gust, Angus Leighton and Lawrence Churches are tuning up for the forthcoming BBL Grand Final at Ninja Stadium. Picture: Linda Higginson
DJ Cane and Gust, Angus Leighton and Lawrence Churches are tuning up for the forthcoming BBL Grand Final at Ninja Stadium. Picture: Linda Higginson

Those who have been to any Hurricanes games over the last two seasons might have seen Angus Leighton strutting around Ninja Stadium, blasting his saxophone.

Along with Lawrence Churches – aka DJ Cane – on the decks, the pair have entertained BBL crowds.

The duo had already played together as a DJ/saxophone duo at weddings and other events for years before the Hobart Hurricanes approached them.

“I’d already been doing the musical production for the games for three years,” Churches said.

“They have someone that does all the music, but they’re generally sort of hidden away a little bit.

“They said ‘we want to spice it up,’ and I said ‘I know Angus, and we work really well together, so let’s move me out of the box into an actual sport and get Angus out into the crowd and make a thing of it.’”

DJ Cane and Gust, Angus Leighton and Lawrence Churches are tuning up for the forthcoming BBL Grand Final at Ninja Stadium. Picture: Linda Higginson
DJ Cane and Gust, Angus Leighton and Lawrence Churches are tuning up for the forthcoming BBL Grand Final at Ninja Stadium. Picture: Linda Higginson

Since he started performing at Hurricanes games, Leighton said he had been surprised by the crowd’s reaction.

“I think they took to it much better than I expected them to.

“But this season, as the canes have been doing better than they have in previous seasons, the crowds are getting more amped up more quickly and more psyched to be there in general.”

Leighton said he was not the only saxophone player to appear at BBL games.

“The Brisbane Heat have got a sax player this season.

“But from what I know, he doesn’t go into the crowd or anything like that. He does their player entries, and that’s about it.

“Something I love is being out and about and just trying to hype the crowd up as much as possible and dancing with them.”

Both Leighton and Churches hinted that they had some surprises up their sleeve for the BBL Grand Final.

simon.mcguire@news.com.au

Originally published as Hurricanes fans queue up for hours in effort to snag BBL final tickets

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/tasmania/angus-leighton-and-lawrence-churches-have-been-entertaining-hobart-hurricanes-crowds-for-the-last-two-years/news-story/f67989c88bdcae4aca9bd9b8b4605262