Basketball returns home to Cowles

28 September 2007

Canterbury Basketball is moving back to the “home of basketball” – Cowles Stadium.

From November, both the Canterbury Rams and the Christchurch Sirens will be based at Cowles Stadium. The Rams have played from Westpac Arena for a number of years and the Sirens play their opening game in the Australian Women’s National Basketball League (AWNBL) there on October 5.

The Christchurch City Council has worked closely with Canterbury Basketball to upgrade Cowles Stadium to acceptable National Basketball and Australian Women’s National Basketball League standards.

Council Recreation and Sport Manager John Filsell says the Council was pleased to be able to able to bring home the two teams.

“The Sirens will move to Cowles Stadium for their second home match of the AWNBL on 3 November. By this time, the venue will have undergone a significant lighting upgrade, have a new scoreboard, new backboards supplied by Vbase and shot clocks, and seating for close to 1300.”

Canterbury Basketball Association PresidentPeter Dwan says although Westpac Arena has served the Rams well, the association felt it was timely to relocate the two teams into the more intimate atmosphere created at Cowles Stadium.

“There has been a strong push from the players and basketball community to create this ‘hometown fortress’ for the two teams.”

He says Vbase, operator of Westpac Arena, have been actively involved in this process and supportive of Canterbury Basketball.

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