Bay’s HoopNation a huge success

Some of the action from Labour Weekend’s HoopNation event in Tauranga. Photo: Chris Callinan.

The relocation of the HoopNation basketball competition to the Bay of Plenty has been the game changer for the event, with a 42 per cent increase in entries this year.

In 2009, HoopNation founders KJ Allen and Paul Berridge set an ambitious goal of establishing a basketball event that would become entrenched on the nation's sporting psyche.

The competition was launched in Whanganui in 2011 with just 15 teams.

After six determined years, a massive 51 teams took part in the 2016 event, with the pair getting tantalising close to achieving their dream.

Key to this growth was the decision to move the competition to Tauranga in 2016, which has world class facilities at ASB Baypark able to accommodate the evolution of the event.

'Other cities have been pitching to secure HoopNation since our inaugural event, and we've had many conversations along the way with some great people and wonderful facilities,” says Paul.

'However, we've always been looking for a city with an edge - and Tauranga has that in droves.”

'At first we didn't know what Tauranga's edge was, but quickly recognised it in the people here,” says KJ.

'The support and vision of Tauranga City Council and Priority One has confirmed for us this decision was the right one.”

The economic impact of the event is significant, with 546 athletes and their coaches, managers, support crews and families descending on the city over Labour Weekend, as well as the officials and volunteers who made the event such a success. Most importantly, all but two of the 51 teams taking part came from outside Tauranga and many stayed four or five nights in the lead up to the competition.

'Paul and I know Tauranga City is the perfect host for the next goal we've been focusing on in this journey, as we grow HoopNation to be the biggest basketball event brand across Asia Pacific” says KJ.

'Tauranga can only win.”

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.