AusLeisure

The Hawks have confirmed that the NBL has agreed to reinstate the name of the foundation club to the ‘Illawarra Hawks’.

The decision comes as the club reached its membership target of 4379 and received increased corporate support from the local community.

The club was placed into voluntary administration in April 2020, with the team name changed to ‘The Hawks’ in June 2020 when placed under new ownership, in an effort to extend the team’s reach in New South Wales.

NBL owner and Executive Chairman, Larry Kestelman, said that the Hawks spoke to the NBL in November last year in an effort to reinstate their original name.

The NBL indicated last year that it was prepared to consider their request if there was sufficient support from the Illawarra community to make the club a viable proposition into the future in the local market.

Kestelman advised "today we are pleased to announce that we have agreed to their request after they met their membership target this season and attracted increased corporate support from the local community.

“We have the utmost faith in the new owners and the hard work they are doing to build a strong club. They have brought back the NBL’s most successful coach Brian Goorjian and enjoyed their best start to a season since 2013

Illawarra Hawks president and co-owner, Dorry Kordahi, said this is a proud day for the club, the community, and its partners, noting "we have worked tirelessly to lift this proud club off the canvas and back into the NBL limelight.

“Today our hard work has again been vindicated and we can return the proud ‘Illawarra’ name to this team and the wonderful community that support it,” Kordahi said.

“We thank the NBL for all of their support since we took over the club last June.

“They have backed us to rebuild the club and we are very appreciative of everything they have done to make this happen,” he said.

The name change comes ahead of the Illawarra Hawks first home game of the 2021 NBL season, to be played tomorrow night against Melbourne United at the WIN  Entertainment Centre.

The team also recently announced Pepper Money as principal club partner.

Image: Dorry Kordahi (left) with Larry Kestelman. Credit; NBL/Facebook.

Related Articles

5th February 2021 - No progress on refurbishment of Wollongong Entertainment Centre 12 months after works identified as a ‘priority’

6th January 2021 - NBL forced to make schedule adjustments in advance of season opening

2nd January 2021 - New Victorian Coronavirus outbreak sees NBL relocate South East Melbourne Phoenix and New Zealand Breakers to Hobart

21st December 2020 - NBL announces Melbourne hub for condensed 36-game competition

10th November 2020 - Tasmanian Government’s purchase of the Derwent Entertainment Centre advances JackJumpers NBL debut

30th October 2020 - Basketball Australia broadcast deal gives WNBL significant exposure

1st October 2020 - Global sports survey shows impact of COVID-19 pandemic

16th September 2020 - NBL delays season start until 2021

19th August 2020 - NBL creates Return to Competition Taskforce to prepare for 2020/21 season

17th June 2020 - NBL awards Illawarra Hawks licence to an international syndicate

18th May 2020 - Creditors vote for liquidation of NBL’s Illawarra Hawks

20th April 2020 - NBL cuts pay and makes roster changes for 2020/21 season

26th March 2020 - Total Sport and Entertainment acquire ownership of NSW sole WNBL franchise

20th March 2020 - NBL names Perth Wildcats as champions after Coronavirus truncates finals series

19th February 2020 - NBL welcomes regular season attendance rise through 2019/20

1st May 2020 - Coronavirus has multi-billion dollar negative impact on global sport

4th February 2020 - Call to upgrade WIN Entertainment Centre after leaking roof halts NBL clash

18th November 2019 - Sydney Kings attain new NBL attendance record

9th October 2019 - NBL generates record viewing figures during first round of the season

25th September 2009 - Hawks Coach Backs NBL Return

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.