Illawarra Basketball Association and Illawarra Hawks sign a historic partnership 

The Illawarra Basketball Association (IBA) and the Illawarra Hawks NBL club have formalised a historic partnership.    

While the Hawks have long subleased premises at the Snakepit under previous arrangements with IBA, the new agreement takes the relationship between the two organisations responsible for promoting Basketball across the region to a whole new level.     

The strategic partnership includes a commitment to work together with Wollongong City Council, New South Wales Government and the Commonwealth Government, to develop a new 'Home of Basketball’ for the Illawarra community at Beaton Park.   

The new proposed facilities plan would build upon the existing Beaton Park master plan and include a multi-court community basketball hub, together with permanent elite training facilities for the Hawks. The hub concept is proposed to include a new show court arena, suitable for the Hawks men’s NBL team should the WIN Entertainment Centre be redeveloped.   

This follows Wollongong City Council’s resolution last month to commence investment this year into the planning process for a new master plan within the Beaton Park sports and leisure precinct.   

The IBA-Hawks partnership agreement aims to facilitate consistent participation by the Hawks in local basketball development, including ongoing delivery of a joint community camps program, coaching workshops and programs supporting respect for referees and healthy community sporting culture, across an annual calendar of events.    

It also recognises the huge commitment of the local Basketball community, by ensuring that IBA members, for the first time, will have a special Hawks Member’s offer for NBL25.    

Both partners have also committed to further support women’s basketball programs, activities and opportunities and to collaborate in the pursuit of a WNBL team for the Illawarra. This pursuit will commence as soon as details of a revitalised WNBL competition and its expansion plans are determined under the WNBL’s exciting new ownership and capitalisation arrangements.    

Current NBL1 Women's player and local IBA Junior Ruby MacDonald shared “This partnership presents a huge opportunity for female players and a push in the right direction. I am excited by the potential of strengthening the Women’s program and pathway in the Illawarra.”   

 “This agreement is really a logical joining of the Basketball forces in the Illawarra, to bring together the whole Illawarra basketball community – from Aussie Hoops kids, to weeknight social players, NBL1 and all the way through to the Hawks NBL Club, our players, coaches, management, members and fans,” said Hawks CEO Stu Taggart.   

“While basketball is booming across Australia, we operate in an extremely competitive marketplace. We compete every day with dozens of other sports and entertainment options, for everything from volunteers to Hawks Members, and from playing and management talent, to government funding and facilities.”   

“To succeed, we need real unity of purpose across the whole Basketball community, and this Agreement really symbolises, and will empower that concerted effort,” Taggart added.   

Nathan Loveday, General Manager of the Illawarra Basketball Association echoed Taggart’s sentiments, saying “People that love playing basketball in the Illawarra also love watching the Hawks. The IBA and the Hawks have huge, shared interests in our sport, and it is exciting to be able to formally harness that in this ground-breaking partnership Agreement.”      

“We are looking forward to being able to deliver much more for our community basketball members – from new facilities to Hawks Membership offers – in partnership with the Hawks,” he added.   

Philip Dopud, current NBL1 Men's player, and local IBA Junior expressed his excitement “The future looks bright for basketball in the Illawarra. The information the Hawks and IBA have shared regarding potential playing and training facilities is amazing, and I am excited for the potential of what is to come.” 

Craig Brown, a father of 2 children actively involved in the Illawarra basketball community, commented: “As a Wollongong basketball family, we are excited that the Hawks and IBA are teaming up to make the whole basketball experience here even better. Whether we are playing or volunteering here at the Snakepit, or supporting the Hawks from the stands at the WIN Entertainment Centre, we are delighted that we are being recognised and valued as members of the basketball community.”