Breakers take games to regional fans

The New Zealand Breakers announced on Wednesday that they are taking two home games during the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season to Hamilton’s Claudelands Arena.

The first of the two fixtures will be on Friday, December 18 against Tasmania, before the Breakers play South East Melbourne on Thursday, February 4.

Breakers Chief Executive Troy Georgiu said the club explored several options for its regional games and is delighted to be returning to a venue that proved successful last season.

“We have enjoyed building a great relationship with the Hamilton City Council and Claudelands Arena,” Georgiu said.

“The location taps into a significant basketball fan base in the wider Waikato/Bay of Plenty region, Claudelands is a great facility, and we enjoyed success there last season with a memorable win over Sydney.”

Georgiu said a number of factors went into deciding where the club would take its regional games, which narrowed the options this season.

“We remain committed to taking the Breakers around the country and showcasing all that the NBL has to offer to basketball fans and building our links with the wider New Zealand community,” he added.

“Hamilton is a great option for us and was able to tick all the boxes on the dates set for these games, and we look forward to delivering two great events for fans in the Waikato community this season and will continue to explore other venues for NBL28 and beyond.”

The Breakers play the Taipans at the Cairns Convention Centre on Sunday from 5pm AEDT, live on ESPN.