Geelong United Basketball enlists fans’ help to ‘keep lights on’

GEELONG United Basketball has started a crowdfunding campaign to ensure the immediate viability of the sport in the region.

It’s hoped the Keep The Lights On initiative will raise $150,000, in partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation.

Geelong United Basketball chief Mark Neeld said tax-deductible donations would help ensure the viability of the sport during the hardship caused by COVID-19.

“The information we currently have, if basketball in this area recommences before the first week of February next year, that’s a really good result,” Neeld said.

“If we were to raise that ($150,000) figure or get somewhere near that, that will go a long way to ensure all our current expenses are met up until that period.”

Geelong United Basketball shut its doors on March 13 and the Geelong Supercats’ NBL1 season has been cancelled.

Neeld said funds would cover ongoing costs at AWA Alliance Bank Stadium.

“Our biggest financial commitment is the stadium that we have,” he said.

“That has an enormous mortgage on it (and) it also has an enormous lease payment on it. Both those things are still ongoing and we were in the middle, when we were shut down, of a significant maintenance program to that building.

“When we go back, there’s a new roof on that building, there will be new plumbing, there’s some new wiring being done — that was all under way when we were stopped.

“Those bills are still coming in with no revenue, so for us, really, it is about keeping our association alive and making sure that when we get the green light to restart, we can.”

Nearly $30,000 has been raised since the fundraiser was launched last Friday.

Neeld praised the assistance of Basketball Australia and Basketball Victoria during the health and economic crisis.

He said Geelong United Basketball was investigating reducing costs to participants as livelihoods are tipped upside down by the pandemic.

“There will be local sporting organisations, semi-elite sporting organisations and possibly even elite sporting organisations, that don’t survive this,” he said.

“That’s probably unquestionable and we are doing what we can to ensure we are not one of them.”

Neeld’s organisation runs a bustling domestic competition with more than 5000 players and a representative program with more than 500 players.

“We’re doing what we can to make sure we can still provide that … whether it be in October, November or later,” he said.

TO DONATE, VISIT: asf.org.au/projects/geelong-united-basketball/ keep-the-lights-on-at-geelongunited-basketball/