Low turnout in Porirua a concern
The Wellington Saints basketball team have only themselves to blame for a poor crowd at last Monday’s game in Porirua, says the manager of recreation at Te Rauparaha Arena.
Saints lost the game against Waitakere Rangers in overtime. Fewer than 500 people attended.
There was little noise from the crowd and Saints owner Nick Mills said after the match that not even 200 of those who attended paid for their tickets.
‘‘Unfortunately not a smart idea to play in Porirua,’’ he said on Twitter.
Te Rauparaha Arena’s manager of recreation Willie Taurima said zero promotion of the event by the Saints and the fact that it was played on a Monday night contributed to the small crowd.
He was unhappy Porirua and the venue had been criticised.
‘‘This is the first time in three or four years the Saints have been out and it’s up to Nick Mills and co to promote it, not us,’’ Taurima said.
‘‘They’re here because TSB was booked and we take no responsibility for selling this game to the public. If we were asked to help, we would’ve bent over backwards.
‘‘Last week it was 80 per cent full for the Pulse game and they have a losing record.’’
Another Saints official, Nick Mills Jr, said his father’s com- ment has been overblown, but that the game could have been promoted better.
‘‘TSB [Arena] will always be our first choice, ’’ he said.