Basketball: Tauranga City urgently needs more courts to cater for growth

Tauranga City Basketball Association's general manager Mark Rogers says they are pleased more people are taking up basketball but they are struggling to cater to the growth. Photo / George Novak

Hundreds of Tauranga basketballers may miss out on taking the court this year as a lack of facilities in the city means Tauranga's basketball association is struggling to cater for growth in the sport.

The sport has seen increases in school and summer competitions and Tauranga City Basketball Association general manager Mark Rogers says although they are happy more people are taking up basketball, they are facing the challenge of not having enough venues to cater to the growth.

"If we had another six courts to use now, we would fill them," Rogers says.

"It is an urgent matter."

He says the sport has seen massive growth across all levels and they compete with other sports and events for the in-demand indoor facilities. Basketball is predominantly played at Mount Maunganui's Trustpower Arena and Tauranga's Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre as well as high school gymnasiums.

"Basketball is No 2 nationally for participation at high school level, behind netball.

"There are 4000 active players in Tauranga in the winter and it caters from Year 1 at school through to walking basketball – where there is no running or jumping."

The need for more courts has already affected the sport after last year's senior premier competition did not go ahead as Tauranga City Basketball did not have the space, or times slots, to run it. The premier competition had catered for more than 100 players.

Rogers says several options have been discussed.

"There is pressure on council for all other sorts of things. We are talking with council regularly around finding more space. We have also talked about finding a warehouse and converting it ourselves. That obviously comes with a large cost and with the growth in the city, there are not a lot of warehouses available.

"The difficult thing is if we grab more space, others miss out."

Tauranga City Council's parks and recreation manager Mark Smith confirmed the council was in regular talks with the Tauranga City Basketball Association and was committed to looking at opportunities for basketball.

Rogers says the same issue is apparent in Whakatāne, where the association also runs competitions.

He says the secondary school competition in Tauranga has been split over two nights but it may need to be reduced to combat the venue shortage. Adding to the issue is the growth in the outdoor three-on-three format – requiring further action in finding suitable venues.

Rogers says the growth of basketball in Tauranga can be attributed to several factors, including the burgeoning career of Rotorua export and Oklahoma City Thunder star Steven Adams.

"He is a great ambassador for the sport and with the NBA, college basketball and the Australian league TV there is plenty to watch. The sport is also popular with the kids. It is suited to the younger generation, it is fast and exciting and parents like it because it is indoors.

"The facilities we do have are some of the best in the country and there are pathways for the kids in terms of scholarships to the United States and the three-on-three game."

Basketball team increases under Tauranga City Basketball:
Primary: 9 (past three years)
Intermediate: 4 (past three years)
Secondary: 7 (past three years)
Summer primary: 13 (past two years)
3x3: 17 (past two years)