Hoops

Kings forced to move to Homebush, seats 4,000

Every time you say "BBL", it takes me several seconds to realise you don't mean "Big Bash League".

How hard is it to type "basketball"?

Not at this stage.

Yet another anon.

lol... good old Anons, need to brush up on their sarcasm...

lol... I love the indignation of Westies as much as the pompousness of the Eastern Suburb people...

Yes, it's better than not having a team playing anywhere, that's true. Yes, there are plenty of other events on that are successful, but do you think that they will run special even trains all day like they do for NRL & AFL and Socceroos games? that's slightly better (just) but do you think that they will run them? Getting out to Olympic Park on the normal schedule is a pain in the butt, and could take up to three trains for people from other locations in the city.

For those that aren't familiar with Olympic Park, check out google maps (https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Sydney+Olympic+Park+Sports+Centre/@-33.8501143,151.0684738,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x6b12a4b69860ebfb:0x7ecb9f0b3d02b232) - the SSC is in the arse end of the precinct as far away from everything as possible.

I agree that the Kings management need to put their focus into spreading more into the Western Suburbs, but don't go pretending that moving out there is a step down from the overall experience that is available to fans when the team is based in the city.

So what are you really agreeing with Imasuck?
This bit? "but I agree with Nobody, the distance to the outer suburbs from Olympic Park means it's a bit harder to get tanked then get home, especially given the cost of Sydney cabs."

Latest here.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/ace-new-arena-to-put-nsw-tennis-back-on-the-map/story-fni0cx12-1227201459780
Sounds exciting if it gets off the ground.

NO ones gonna kick on out there. That's the point.

Agree that it's still out in the middle of nowhere, and unlike people coming from outside the CBD, it's harder for others to get there via public transport instead of a single bus or train into the city and one back out.

I actually think the stadium itself has good atmosphere, but the problems that it's old seating (and STILL have the numbers going from outside in, not like 1-20 like a normal stadium and no matter how much you explain to ticketek people, they tell you that "yes, Seat #1 IS on the aisle, when it isn't) and from memory no actual corporate box seating and facilities like at QCUA, so it's less "special" for corporate sponsors, so you're not going to be able to charge as much and there's less to sell...

I DO agree however that it requires some serious work from the management... It SHOULD be easier with one of Bankstowns favourite basketball sons on the team, even Brandt has Western Sydney roots... It still won't be easy overall, but hopefully being able to pull in more Western Sydney fans should be a bit easier with Cadee and Brandt on the team to be able to market to them...

It won't put me off attending games, it will just make it harder and I hope the Kings management understand this and treat their members and fans accordingly, not just take the attitude of "well, we're the only team in town, deal with it!" like the Spirit did initially...

Of course they have Sydney roots. The Sydney Supersonics merged with the West Sydney Weststars in 1988. The important bit being SYDNEY SUPERSONICS. To suggest that there never was a Sydney is ludicrous.
Homebush is still in the middle of nowhere.
Most supporters of the NBL in the west hate the KINGS.
All home attendances are generally inflated. Nothing new.
By the way Homebush is still in the middle of no where. Nothing in the precinct at all.

What is going to change in a season? No other stadiums are being built, are they? It's already been stated that the Kings will not be using the auditorium that is being built in the current stadiums place as it is not suitable, what other alternatives are there? Fixing the seating in the Dome, or throwing away money playing to a less than half full Allphones?

I love all this doom and gloom without any comments at to viable alternatives...

The Kings played out of the much bigger stadium in the past before their demise and even with a decent amount turning up, it still looked half empty... Really poor atmosphere...

A shame that the Dome isn't fixed seating, as that number would be perfect, even out in the wilderness...

Is the discrepancy with numbers actual seating versus seating + standing around the top? I actually like it for atmosphere, but the quality of the seating themselves is quite crap, the location is terrible, even further away from what very little food/entertainment is actually out there, and will be an especially huge pain in the butt to get there for weeknight games...

But there's no alternative, unfortunately... Just have to work even harder to get people to games and make it worthwhile... There's probably lots of ideas that are workable if they put their thinking caps on...

The stadium holds 5,000 and is a lot cheaper than Allphones Arena. If the Kings could sell 10k to every game than they could play there, but they can't.

Hope it's only for one season. Any longer could well be fatal IMO.

Well done to the SA reps:

Elizabeth CAMBAGE / Dandenong / Victoria / AIS
Stephanie CUMMING / Dandenong / Victoria / AIS (Captain)
Bree FARLEY / Kadina / South Australia / AIS
Kerryn HARRINGTON / Bendigo / Victoria / AIS
Jillian HAUGHTON / Mackay / Queensland / AIS
Kelsey IRELAND / Kadina / South Australia / AIS
Rachel JARRY / Dandenong / Victoria / AIS
Ashleigh KARAITIANA / City of Sydney / New South Wales / AIS
Alice KUNEK / Eltham / Victoria / AIS
Rosie MOULT / Nunawading / Victoria / AIS
Tess MADGEN / Eastern Mavericks / South Australia / AIS
Gretel TIPPETT / Miami / Queensland

Head Coach: Dean Kinsman
Assistant Coach: Dale Waters, Sandy Tomley
Team Manager: Trudy Pearce
Doctor: Dr. Larissa Trease
Physiotherapist: Ebonie Scase