SAVE OUR SNAKES
Taipans fans rally to ensure club stays in Cairns next season
TAIPANS legend and former captain Alex Loughton has added his voice to the call to the State Government to find a way for the Snakes to play out of their home court in NBL21. Loughton, who retired at the end of the 2018-19 season, joined a number of devoted Taipans fans outside the Cairns Convention Centre on Saturday morning to appeal directly to Queensland Sports Minister Mick de Brenni.
The venue’s $176 million upgrade, which was meant to start after the Commonwealth Games in 2018, has been delayed for a third time and could leave the Snakes homeless this season.
THE Cairns economy could be among the biggest victims if the Taipans are unable to play their NBL home games at the Cairns Convention Centre, according to retired club legend Alex Loughton.
“If nothing is done, it could spell the end of the Taipans,” Loughton told the Cairns Post.
“We might not get back from that.”
Loughton, who retired at the end of the 2018-19 season, joined a number of devoted Taipans fans outside the CBD venue on Saturday morning to add his voice to the call to the State Government to find a way for the Snakes to play out of their home court in NBL21.
They appealed directly to Queensland Sports Minister Mick de Brenni from the entrance to the venue, where a $176 million upgrade, which was meant to start after the Commonwealth Games in 2018, has been delayed for a third time and thrown the Snakes’ plans for the upcoming NBL season into disarray.
The power forward joined the club in 2010, as the club emerged from the Global Financial Crisis and voluntary administration.
It was then he saw what the franchise meant to the people and community of Cairns and the Far North.
“They were so appreciative of our efforts,” he said. “There was a huge emotional tie-in with the effort we put in, and it meant so much to so many.”
Loughton no longer has an official affiliation with the club and now embraces the journey, the wins and the losses, among those same fans who adored his contribution to the Taipans’ 21-season history.
He rode the Taipans’ charge up the ladder from the stands, and was eagerly anticipating what will come next as Cairns sought to capitalise on a finals run and establish themselves as one of the NBL’s best.
The coronavirus pandemic will force the Taipans’ muchloved import trio of Scott Machado, DJ Newbill and Cameron Oliver to split up, with only two imports allowed per team in NBL21, which will not start until after the AFL and NRL seasons are finished and fans are allowed at venues.
While that will make a big impact on the court, the potential loss of the Cairns Convention Centre as a home base – and a forced move out of town – could be a strike from which there is little to no return.
And that could spell disaster, not only for the basketball community but to city businesses who open the doors to thousands of people whenever there is a game in Cairns.
Millions of dollars are injected into the local economy, primarily through accommodation, restaurants and bars, during the summer, which is outside of peak tourist season.
“This isn’t a Taipans issue, it’s not a basketball issue; this is a Cairns issue,” he said.
Both the club and NBL are lobbying the State Government to provide a solution which would allow the Taipans to play at their home court.
Taipans president Troy Stone last week said any costs incurred by the delay should not be footed by the community-owned club.
“We’re open to really looking at anything,” he said. “We’ll be adaptable, the NBL will be adaptable, they need to put their schedule together and we’re the only club at the moment which hasn’t been able to give them availability about dates.”
NBL owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman said it would be disastrous if the Taipans could not play in Cairns.