Kings call on New Zealand fans

The Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings are calling on all New Zealand basketball fans, after today announcing that revenue generated from tickets purchased in supporter bays at Qudos Bank Arena on Friday night would be donated to the Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers.

After eleven long months, Sydney fans will be treated to a blockbuster home game double-header this weekend when the Kings take on the Breakers at 7.30pm on Friday, before hitting the court again at 3pm on Sunday to face cross-state rivals, the Illawarra Hawks.

Having spent the last seven weeks on the road the Kings know all too well the challenges that come from a continually changing environment;  players and staff are living away from home, and members and fans having no certainty on when they will get to see their team play next.

Kings Chairman and Owner Paul Smith said that whilst maintaining strong rivalries is important for the league, teams also needed to show support for each other as we continue to navigate a COVID-affected season in which teams are being heavily impacted financially.  

“A lot of teams are in a similar boat as the Breakers with having long stints on the road, but they’ve definitely got it far worse than anyone else” Smith said.

“From my perspective, I just felt that we needed to do something here in Sydney; we’ve got a big New Zealand population here, and they need some help right now.”

“Our guys received tremendous support in Adelaide and Cairns over the last few weeks and I think that’s the general courtesy we all show, but this is a higher-level need, similarly to the way everyone dug-deep and rallied around the Warriors during the NRL season” said Smith.

“Of course, you could look at it in the way that it may not be in our best interest to have a whole bunch of New Zealand fans coming out to support them in our house, but we are more than happy to see the financial support go to their Club because they’re not hosting home games for the foreseeable future.”

“I see this as my responsibility as an owner to help out another owner, and I hope this sets the premise for what we should all be doing to support each other. If we can bring one fan, or ten fans, or 100 fans in to support them then that’s a great demonstration that people care about them” Smith shared.

Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers owner Matt Walsh thanked the Kings and encouraged kiwi fans in Sydney to show their support on Friday night.

“I can’t thank my friends Paul Smith, Chris Pongrass and the Sydney Kings enough” Walsh said.  

“This is a challenging year for everyone navigating a post COVID world, and our guys are doing it particularly hard being away from home for over two months already, and likely another four or five”.

“While the Sky Sport Breakers are fierce competitors with the Kings on the court, we are in this together off it, and their support to us is so incredibly generous”.

“The Kings put on one of the best game nights in the league and I hope all our Sydney based kiwis will come support both teams on Friday. From all of us here in New Zealand, Ng? mihi” Walsh said.

The Kings will take on the Breakers at Qudos Bank Arena this Friday night from 7.30pm. All tickets are available at ticketek.com.au. New Zealand fans looking to show their support for the Breakers can do so by purchasing into one of the 'Away Supporters' bays.