Basketball: Western exodus likely as Breakers chase support

The Breakers appear set to abandon their shiny, new Waitakere home in search of an elusive crowd and, ultimately, success in the Australian National Basketball League.

The franchise - which has struggled to make an on-court impact in its three seasons in the ANBL - has a year left to run on its contract at Trusts Stadium but is believed to be engineering a departure, probably to the North Shore Events Centre. The Breakers would keep their administration and training base at Trusts Stadium until its contract ended.

Breakers management is resigned to the fact it has failed to convince the paying public to take on the NorthWestern Motorway after work - most, if not all the Breakers' home games next season will be played on Thursday nights - a journey that can take two hours to complete.

The North Shore Events Centre also has access problems, though less acute, but there is believed to be a larger core of basketball support north of the bridge. North Shore has well-run schools programmes and a well-established club competition.

The other venue under consideration is the yet-to-be-completed Vector Arena in downtown Auckland. However that is thought to be too unreliable in the short term and is likely to be too expensive in the long.

North Shore Events Centre manager Donald Southee said he had been in "confidential discussions" with Breakers management but would not elaborate: "They've [the Breakers] asked that the talks remain confidential and I will respect that."

It raises the spectre that Waitakere's flagship sports centre is turning into something of a white elephant although users have been nothing but positive about the facilities.

Breakers commercial manager Richard Clarke said negotiations with stadium chief executive Simon Wickham were ongoing.

"We're still working with Trusts Stadium in regard to our draw for the season," he said. "We've a year to run on our contract which is for a minimum of 12 of our 16 home games to be played at Waitakere."

However, the Herald on Sunday understands the Breakers remain hopeful of an arrangement to move most of their games away from west Auckland. Clarke said it was probable at least one home game would be taken on the road, with Hamilton, Napier and New Plymouth being considered.