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Latrobe City Pacers 'Play Your Part' Campaign

Encourage Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley to play an active role in the survival of the Pacers

By David Roberts - 19th February 2002 - Back to News

President of the Latrobe City Pacers, David Roberts last night launched the "Play YOUR Part" Campaign, which will encourage the Gippsland and Latrobe Valley communities to take a more active role in the survival of the Pacers.

Mr Roberts said that for the Latrobe City Pacers to survive and be competitive in the Australian Basketball League, the community must step up and "Play their Part".

He explained that the campaign would be focus on the businesses community through the raffling of the Naming Rights, sponsorship and inkind support and as well as encouraging the wider community to "play their part" through greater attendance at games, becoming a Pacers member and volunteering at club events.

"The success of this campaign is crucial to the Pacers future. We must get the community to ‘own’ and support our club. We have struggled over the last few years to attract a major sponsors and the naming rights raffle is a way in which we can attract greater support from a wider cross section of businesses."

A maximum of 300 tickets will be available at costing only a $100. Each ticket will offer benefits such as entry to all home games, recognition in the Pacers Program and on the Pacers webpage as well as a chance to be naming sponsor.

Pacers Naming Rights is valued by the club at $20,000 and includes significant advertising in the local media and recognition on all publicity material.

The Club will also offer 4 Game Night Sponsorship Packages, valued at $2,000, which will allow the successful businesses to host a game at either Traralgon or Moe games.

Mr Roberts continued that the "Play Your Part" campaign does not stop there. "We are also striving to get greater support from the wider community and the local basketball associations. Without the support of these people there is no future for our club."

"We must make some important decisions over the next 12 months, including whether to stay in the Australian Basketball Association or relegate to the lower Victorian Basketball League. This is an important question and must be answered in the conjunction with the wider Basketball Community" he said.

"Plans to amalgamate the local associations and the create a Latrobe City Association must include the Pacers and where we fit into the development of local basketball talent and the structure of basketball in Gippsland."

"It is unfortunate that this region has been unable to replicate the success of regions such as Bendigo, Ballarat, Warrnambool and Shepparton at all levels of Basketball, both senior and junior. We must pull together for the benefit and development of basketball in this region."

"It is also important to recognize the success of the Pacers in providing opportunity for our local players to play at the second highest in Australia without having to leave the Latrobe Valley. This is particularly important for players such as Steven Bonacci and Geoff Reid who are aspiring to play in the National Basketball League."

"However, to continue to provide this opportunity and to strive for on court success, we must have greater support from the community."

It is expected that the club will seek to convene a meeting with basketball and community representatives over the next 4 weeks to discuss the future of the club.

Mr Roberts concluded by encouraging everyone to ‘Play their Part’ in the future of Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley’s elite basketball team, the Latrobe City Pacers. "Buy a ticket and take an active part in the future of our club’ he said.

For more information on the "Play Your Part" campaign contact Club President David Roberts on 0412 724 465 or visit the website at www.latrobecitypacers.com

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: support@gippslander.com

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