Cairns Taipans closing in on season-ticket target
THE Taipans were still about 200 short of their season-ticket target last night less than 24 hours ahead of the NBL's deadline for updating budgetary information.
All clubs have until close of business today to update budget details with Basketball Australia and the Taipans will enter revised season ticket and sponsorship details with the league.
Taipans general manager Mark Beecroft said the club was submitting "real figures" rather than targets today ahead of the league’s announcement of the 2010-11 season line-up on February 16.
"While I think we’re very, very close to our targets, the figures we will submit are based on what we know today, so they’re real figures," Beecroft said. "We’ve got a number of discussions in the pipeline which we think will make our budget viable.
"We’re tracking towards where we projected in both those areas (season tickets and sponsorship)."
Beecroft said the club’s submission would carry "notes", to underline the Taipans’ continued revenue-raising activities.
While 2010 was the season-ticket target for today, the club hopes to build that to 2500-2700 by tip-off of the new season, ensuring their costs were covered.
Beecroft said the support of the community in helping double the current season ticket base had been vital.
"Hopefully (today) we can say that through the support of the Cairns community and the Cairns business community we’ve reached our target," Beecroft said.
"We’ve tracked (upwards) in a big way in a short period of time.
"We’ve still got a long way to go."
Beecroft said meetings with NBL commission member Andrew Vlahov this week had been fruitful.
In what Beecroft described as a "fact-finding mission" for Vlahov, discussion was held on the club’s budget and cash flow, with the former Perth Wildcats owner and chairman offering great insight.
"Certainly for us it was most useful," Beecroft said.
Meanwhile, almost 100 hardy fans will venture into "enemy territory" tomorrow to cheer on the Snakes in Townsville.
The club has sold out a 36-seat charter flight with sponsor Skytrans, with those flying down joining more than 40 Far Northern youngsters in Townsville for a junior carnival.
To make a season-ticket pledge, go to www.savethetaipans.com/survey_2010.html or phone the Taipans office on 4041 3000.
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Taipans general manager Mark Beecroft.
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