The Cairns Taipans are used to last-minute buzzer-beaters and are hoping for another as they attempt to keep their bid for inclusion in the 2010-11 NBL season on track.

The Taipans need to sign 2000 members by tomorrow night so they can prepare a budget that meets Basketball Australia’s financial criteria.

Yesterday afternoon the club had received 737 membership pledges.

Their membership drive received a boost last night with Raging Thunder offering a Fitzroy Island Ferries transfer return ticket for all people who pledge to purchase Fast Break season tickets.

The offer follows Reef Magic Cruises’ deal to provide an outer Great Barrier Reef trip to platinum and gold season ticket pledges.

Taipans president Denis Donaghy said the membership drive was starting to gain momentum but needed a big push over the next two days.

"It’s not too bad, we’d prefer if it was going a little faster but as with the issue of foundation memberships last year we didn’t get over the line until the last day,’’ he said.

The club has until December 24 to lodge its expression of interest with the NBL but wanted an early indication of likely membership numbers.

"But it looks like we might need a couple more days to get to the number we want so we’ll continue to advertise, coax and cajole so that we get the numbers we need to make the budget work next year,’’ he said.

Donaghy said it was important to reach the 2010 membership goal so the club could prepare a workable budget for next season.

"We have to lodge an expression of interest on the 24th and hopefully we’ll be up around the number we need by then.

"But if not, then we’ll talk to the league and they’ll probably not do too much over the Christmas and New Year period in terms of processing expressions of interest so we’ll check to see what is the last date we can update our expression of interest information.’’

Donaghy said the Raging Thunder offer proved businesses recognised the economic benefit the Taipans brought to the city.

"It’s a great value add for people buying tickets but more important is the fact that it’s an indication that some of the businesses who aren’t basketball fans are starting to understand how much value the team is to the town in terms of supporting the work they do,’’he said.

"I think Raging Thunder and Reef Magic are promoting heavily to domestic travellers and they see the value of having the name Cairns in markets they target.

"It sends a message that Cairns is a place that wants to be up with the rest of the nation in terms of participating in elite level sport."

To register an expression of interest in season tickets, visit the Cairns Taipans website or phone 4041 3000.

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