As you are probably well aware running a basketball association is all about getting kids to participate, develop and grow in their skills and aspirations.  The heat is our flagship team and forms an important bridge between the end of our rep program (U21’s) and boys making it to the ANBL (eg. NZ Breakers) as it is almost unheard of, and darn near impossible to go from U21 to NZ Breakers without a stint in the Heat Reserves (CBL) or a season or two with the Heat (NBL).

The Board wrestle with the ongoing quandary with the Heat in terms of funding as traditionally there has had to be some cross-subsidisation from some of our other activities to ensure the Heat were on the court each season.  Well the Board took an important decision mid 2009 to work extremely hard to make the Heat self-funding and sustainable – separate to Harbour Basketball’s other programs, funding, activities and commitments.  The attached document is one of the first steps in making this happen!

As you can imagine, however, our Harbour Basketball family has only 4 ½ paid staff who have to develop and support basketball programs with almost 11,000 participants and so the only way we continue to provide our community with such a successful, large scale, well run and growing suite of offerings is via the incredible group of passionate volunteer helpers!  It’s you – our supporters, volunteers, mums, coaches, managers, dads, great uncles and such we now have to reach out to for help.  The Staff and Board can only do so much (and trust me – we’re doing that!) and so we desperately need more arms, legs, mouths, and especially network contacts, to generate interest in (and commit to) the attached sponsorship and support packages.  Anyone involved in or who enjoys basketball will find something to suit in this document where prices range from $5 through to $80,000!  What we need is for you to consider what you can do for us and to also take 10 minutes and think of who you might know (friends, boss, family, business owners, team mates, ex players, coaches etc.) who you can send this document to (it’s not highly confidential but please don’t send it to other teams, media etc.) and encourage to buy a sponsorship or supporter package.  Please don’t take  the “someone else will do it” approach as we really need your help and support to achieve our goals whereby our entire basketball community can benefit. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in one of the enclosed packages – please contact our CEO, Steve Dally on 021 816 780 or at:  ceo@harbourbasketball.co.nz  to discuss.  For standard tickets, enquiries or Season Tickets – please just call the Harbour Basketball office on (09) 443 3854.

Thanks very much for all you have done (or are doing) for our association and we look forward to hearing back from you soon with some leads or contacts who are interested in supporting us this season.  The office and Board are very excited with the Heat roster we have recently finalised and honestly believe we have a serious chance of bringing home the NBL Championship this year.  It’s going to be a great season ahead so please get involved, get to The Furnace and “Feel the Heat!”

Harbour Basketball Sponsorship and Support Opportunities (2010) FINAL.pdf