NBL Blitz tickets go on sale

Tickets for the National Basketball League’s (NBL) 2006 Philips Championship Pre-Season Blitz tournament in Coffs Harbour are now on sale with fans able to gain access to both Friday and Saturday sessions for as little as $22.

The tournament, which is the official pre-season hit out of the Philips Championship, will be held in Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales on 8 and 9 September.

NBL Operations and Events Manager Stacey Meadows said that the ticket packages had been priced reasonably by the event hosts to encourage maximum fan attendance.

“The event organisers and the NBL have been very conscious of making the Blitz an affordable event for the local Coffs Harbour community,” said Meadows. “We want to see a jam-packed stadium on both days of the tournament and we believe that the pricing structure will help ensure this.

“The Blitz is a unique opportunity for fans to see all 12 teams in the one venue at the one time up close and personal. We’re sure the Coffs Harbour public will come out and support this major sporting event and we’ve priced it in such as way as to make sure the cost isn’t prohibitive. You can see two days of world-class basketball for less than the price of a CD. That’s great value.”

Two ticket packages are currently available:

A $25 ticket gives the holder entry into all sessions on Friday and Saturday including the final.

A $22 ticket gives the holder entry into all sessions on Friday and Saturday including the semi-finals, but excluding the final.

Tickets can be purchased from Coffs Harbour City Council’s Sports Unit during business hours (8:30am-5pm) by calling (02) 6648 4950 or in person at the Sports Unit Office which is located at 169 Rose Avenue, Coffs Harbour. Alternatively, cash purchases can be made at Sportz Central, 74A Bray Street, Coffs Harbour.

Coffs Harbour Councillor Bill Palmer said that basketball has a very strong local following.

“I’m sure that having such a major tournament as the NBL Blitz will ensure that the fan-base the sport already has will increase enormously,” said Cr. Palmer. “Hosting the Blitz is a fantastic coup for Coffs Harbour and will be a major boost for the region.”

“The event will be a great opportunity for fans to see the best basketball players in Australia – including most of the national squad – in one international competition.”

“We have an excellent venue at Sportz Central and I hope that hosting this year’s Blitz will help the city win future basketball events,” he added.

The 2006 NBL Blitz, which will see all 12 NBL teams participate, will be hosted by Coffs Harbour Basketball in association with the Coffs Harbour Sports Unit and Sportz Central.

Blitz matches are shortened to two 12-minute halves with a running clock for all but the last two minutes of each game. In 2005, the Melbourne Tigers took out the Blitz with former NBA centre Chris Anstey earning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.

Further details of the game schedule and competition format will be released at a later date.