Basketball News and weekend previews: Basketball Ireland sponsors ESB are ending their six-year relationship with the association in March. Despite soundings from several interested parties, no new sponsor has yet come forward.
A number of smaller backers may have to be sought to fund the running of the Superleague (male and female), the National Cup, the international teams and the schools events. Furthermore, the organisation's annual awards ceremony, which usually takes place in April or May, has not yet been scheduled.
Basketball Ireland chief executive Debbie Massey has been meeting prospective sponsors in recent months and hopes to announce a new deal, or deals, by August. "We have just recently gone through an arduous strengthening review in Basketball Ireland," said Massey. "We haven't put all this work in on the restructuring side just by coincidence. We knew this was coming down the line so we wanted to make the sport more marketable to a main sponsor or even a number of small sponsors."
A main attraction is the televised National Cup weekend but, due to their lack of profile, it's the other areas of the organisation that are causing concern.
The ESB sponsorship covers one third of the organisation's annual turnover, which is between €1.2 million and €1.4 million. Funding also comes via the Sports Council grant, registration fees, membership fees and gate receipts.
Several moves have been made in recent times to become more independent in generating income, including the planned launch of a corporate membership scheme, both in Ireland and the United States.
"Six years is a reasonably long time to sponsor a certain product. With basketball, we just feel it has reached its natural end," said ESB spokesman Kevin McDermott. "Although the Hoops programme has a wide-ranging appeal we have decided on a more community-based refocus."
The company has conducted a full sponsorship review, and decided to get out of a number of arrangements, including the Community Games.
Meanwhile, the race for third place in the Northern Conference, and entry to the play-offs, reaches a vital juncture this weekend for UCD Marian, St Vincent's and Shamrock Rovers. Marian play Star of the Sea, who are already through, St Vincent's play Killester, while Rovers host the UCC Demons on Sunday.
In the Southern Conference, Dave Langrell is available again after injury as Neptune tonight go in search of revenge for the cup final defeat against the UCC Demons. However, the Demons' Tim O'Halloran has been ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that the men's Superleague final will be held on March 20th at UCC's Demon's Mardyke Arena in Cork
WEEKEND FIXUTURES
MEN'S SUPERLEAGUE: Today: UCC Demons v Neptune, Mardyke Arena, 8.15. Saturday: Killester v St Vincent's, IWA, 8.00; Tralee Tigers v Limerick, Tralee, 8.00; Star of the Sea v UCD Marian, Jordanstown, 7.15; Waterford v Killarney Lakers, WIT, 7.30. Sunday: Shamrock Rovers v UCC Demons, ESB Arena, 3.00.
WOMEN'S SUPERLEAGUE: Saturday: Waterford Wildcats v St Paul's, Mercy, 7.30; Meteors v Killester, Naomh Olaf, 6.45; University of Limerick v Tolka Rovers, UL Arena, 7.00. Sunday: Drimnagh v Glanmire, Oblates, 3.30.
