HIGH HOPES: Kodie Briggs, 5, of Tamworth, trying his style before the Kings and Taipans take the court at Tamworth Sports Dome. Photo: Barry Smith 070912BSD03
THE success of the NBL clash between the Sydney Kings and the Cairns Taipans is just the beginning of Tamworth’s professional sports future, Destination Tamworth’s Gavin Flanagan said.
The two teams contested the Schweppes Drury’s Cup at the Tamworth Sports Dome at the weekend, resulting in a win for the Kings and a win for Tamworth’s sports lovers.
Playing to a sell-out crowd on Saturday night, the Kings swept the floor with the Taipans, establishing a 12-point lead at quarter time and never looking back.
Destination Tamworth business events manager Gavin Flanagan said he was among the 500-strong crowd on Saturday night and described it as a “great
atmosphere.”
“It went fantastically well,” Mr Flanagan said. “We had a lot of comments from both teams about how professional and well-organised the games were, it’s a great success for organisers and for Tamworth.”
Mr Flanagan said the game was broadcast live through the Sydney Kings website, and he even found a London expat on Twitter sitting listening to the match being played over 10,000 miles away.
“The technology is amazing that you can have a Kings fan watching a match in Tamworth from London,” Mr Flanagan said.
Mr Flanagan said the players were extremely popular during their time in Tamworth, visiting schools and conducting clinics, and spending hours signing autographs after the match.
“They definitely picked up a few extra fans while they were here,” Mr Flanagan said, mentioning there was quite a few Kings jerseys in the crowd on Saturday night.
“The kids in the crowd with Kings jerseys on were a great endorsement for them, proving they really connected with the fans and promoted their brand.”
Mr Flanagan has promised it won’t be the last time that we will see top level professional sport in Tamworth.
