This is a big weekend for Basketball as the sport celebrates its Hula Hoop National Cup Finals at the National Basketball Arena.
The stands will be packed with fans cheering on UCD Marian bidding for a second Men’s title in seven years against fellow Dubs Black Amber Templeogue on Saturday.
On Sunday it’s the turn of the Women with Cork represented by Ambassador UCC Glanmire taking on DCU Mercy.
Theis is the first year of an extended three year deal with TG4 where the Finals are broadcast live and online.
The national leagues are extended again this year with the addition of teams from around the country and the return of stardust players like Kieron Donaghy and Michael Darragh McAuley broadening the reach of the sport beyond the traditional fan base.
Last year’s hosting of the European Championships for U18 Women was a massive success and the sport will be opening up its courts to the wider world again in the summer when Cork is the host city for the European Small nations Women’s tournament.
The sport suffered badly during the economic crash of a decade ago. Issues with governance and spending had to be addressed and were by CEO Bernard O’Byrne who told the Irish Examiner this week that the debt in the sport, which peaked at €1.2 Million at the turn of this decade is now down below €200,000 and hopefully cleared by the AGM in the summer.
It has been a steady story of success hard won off the back of a solid structure within schools and colleges and a desire to build back to where the sport has been before.
That rarely happens. Fashions change and new sparkling endeavours grab the attention. It is to the credit of the sport here that it has bounced back and has a bright future ahead.
The National Basketball Arena is 25 years old this year and was joined twelve months ago in terms of international facilities by the accommodation and promotion of the sport within the National Indoor Arena at the National Sports Campus.
This summers European event will take place at UCD’s Mardyke Arena. There are halls at many schools around the country and the infrastructure is there so that with a little imagination from the Department of education to make them more accessible to clubs, Basketball could really take off.
It hits the mark in terms of providing genuine equality of opportunity between men and women, is not dependent in winter months on the vagaries of the Irish weather and it has the global powerhouse of the NBA and Olympic status to fuel dream of young players.
While major brands cluster around the big sports of Gaelic Games, Rugby and Soccer, this is a team sport which is poised on the cusp of a bigger place in the national consciousness and which should be on the appraisal list for any sponsorship consideration.
Take a look at the zip and vigour that the weekend finals will deliver, if you’ve not experienced it before it could be a real eye-opener.
Sign up today for our free daily news digest covering the commercial world of sport or discover the benefits of becoming a full member alongside the many leading organisations whom we serve.
