Forget the NSW state election, on Saturday the biggest show in town will be at Sir Neville Howse stadium as the Orange Eagles amp up the volume for their first home game in 30 years.
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The club's re-entry into the Spalding Waratah Division 1 Men's competition has been a long time coming, and the Eagles are determined to make an impact on and off the court - and home games will prove a crucial part of that.
Harvey said it was an exciting chance to showcase the sport in front of an Orange crowd, and hoped the evidence of a clear pathway into a senior men's team - a women's team is part of a long-term plan - will have people excited to play basketball.
It's so fantastic to be able to play in front of a home crowd.
- Orange Eagles coordinator Craig Harvey
With that in mind, the evening is slated as a family-friendly affair.
"We had people in Bathurst for the Waratah Junior Leagues over the weekend and they were impressed by the setup," Harvey said, adding he hoped people in Orange would see the months of hard work that had gone into the
While the game on the court will be the main attraction, there'll be plenty off-court to keep people entertained, with admission free to the first game.
DJ Dave O'Hara will be taking control of the voice announcing and the music, and Eagles' coordinator Craig Harvey said O'Hara - who is a mad basketball fan - had been in contact with NBA announcers and technicians at the Sacramento Kings for hints and tricks.
The club's juniors will have the chance to show off their tricks at quarter time and three quarter time, while at the major break audience members will be invited on-court to shoot at the ring for $100 cash, while there'll also be a canteen and bar for the game, with the national anthem and welcome to country to open the clash.
Harvey said audience interaction will be a key focus of the evening, but the club wasn't resting on its laurels, aiming to include dancers and more during breaks in coming home games.
"It's so fantastic to be able to play in front of a home crowd," he said.
"We'll also take the chance to bring some of our life members along, because without them we might not have an association let alone a D1M team."
The game commences at 6.30pm at Sir Neville Howse Stadium. Entry is free.
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