ABC News: Tim Fernandez
)The owner of a National Basketball League (NBL) team has implored the New South Wales government to invest more in sporting venues, after being "embarrassed" when a hoop and backboard collapsed prior to a televised match this week.
The hoop fell as players warmed up on court at Wollongong on Monday night, causing a 30-minute delay to the start of the Illawarra Hawks-Brisbane Bullets clash.
Hawks owner Dorry Kordahi was sitting next to NBL owner Larry Kestelmen as they watched staff scramble to rectify the issue ahead of the broadcast.
"It was disappointing and I was embarrassed," Mr Kordahi said.
"This could have been a bigger disaster if someone got hit, and our main concern is making sure that the public, players and staff are safe.
ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale
)Not the first time
It was the third time a NBL match had been affected due to a fault with the stadium, which is managed by Venues NSW.
A game between the Hawks and the New Zealand Breakers was abandoned after rain leaked through the roof in February last year.
In 2019, a shot clock failure halted play between the Hawks and Adelaide 36ers.
A spokesperson for Venues NSW said it had recently upgraded the basketball nets and would work to determine how the collapsed happened.
"It had been used in training in the days leading up to the match and no issues were apparent.
"The safety of players, officials and fans is our number one priority and we will investigate the cause of the equipment failure."
'Not good enough'
Wollongong MP Paul Scully said he would write to the Sports Minister, Geoff Lee, and ask him to fast-track upgrades to the stadium.
"I don't know how much more evidence the government needs to prove that there is a problem and this is a venue that is desperately in need of an upgrade," he said.
ABC Illawarra: Madalyn Date
)The NBL declined to comment but Mr Kordahi said he had requested both hoop and backboard systems be fully repaired.
"I'm hoping they can come to the party and give us a whole new system that can show faith to our fans and the community that Venues NSW and the government have taken this seriously," he said.
Mr Lee declined to comment.
