Taipans face road start
COVID delaying home court renovations
SENDING the Cairns Taipans on the road for the first few weeks of the season may end up being the answer to the club’s homelessness woes brought on by the delayed convention centre renovation.
During a tour of the site on Wednesday, Housing, Public Works and Sports Minister Mick de Brenni said the centre would not be available for use until February 4 with the COVID-19 crisis one of the reasons for the 65-day delay to the Snakes’ home.
Mr de Brenni was expected to meet the club on Wednesday night and again on Thursday.
“They have some ideas about how they can keep playing here in Cairns.
“We want to support that,” he said.
“All national sporting codes are having to apply agility to their schedules … and the delays to delivering the new Snake Pit are entirely due to (COVID-19) delays.
“We’ve all got to problem solve together about how we can support the Taipans and we will ensure the NBL (National Basketball League) is part of that.”
The city’s second most wellknown basketball venue is the Fish Tank on Aumuller St, already used by the Cairns Marlins and Dolphins Queensland Basketball League teams, and as the Taipans’ practice venue.
However the court would need significant upgrades to be NBL standard and fill the league’s broadcast criteria and these would be unlikely to be completed by the start of the 2020/21 season.
Mr de Brenni would not be drawn on an alternative Cairns venue.
The 2020-21 NBL competition is due to start in early December and runs through to April.
Taking games to Townsville had been flagged as an option, but Mr de Brenni said he was a “firm believer” the games should be held in Cairns.
He said any decision would be made in conjunction with the club, the NBL, Cairns Mayor Bob Manning and tourism leaders.
Taipans coach Mike Kelly said the team was desperate to stay at home for the sake of their supporters.
“That’s definitely the ultimate goal, to play in front of our fantastic fans, and I know we’re working hard for that to happen,” he said.
Fans launched a petition last month calling on the State Government to keep the games in Cairns.