Netball: Funds drive seeks to ease Tactix's burden

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Netball New Zealand are hoping a fundraising drive for the Canterbury Tactix over the next two weeks will help soften the financial blow the franchise and its regional programmes have taken from the Christchurch earthquake.

The Tactix will tonight return to their home court for the first time since last month's quake, taking on the Southern Steel at the CBS Canterbury Arena.

ANZ Championship organisers TTNL and Netball NZ have each contributed $10,000 to underwrite hosting costs. Their backing gives the Tactix the opportunity to invite the Canterbury public to the match and support their home team at no charge.

The match has received strong community support, with last night just 300 seats remaining. Patrons will be asked to make a donation, with funds to be directed towards redevelopment of community netball and youth netball.

Canterbury netball officials will be hoping for a further cash injection next week after the Tactix's "home" game against Northern Mystics at Auckland's Vector Arena.

The match was originally scheduled to be played in Christchurch on February 27, but was immediately postponed after the quake.

With Vector Arena offering the venue free of charge next Thursday, entry to the game will be by donation with all funds going to Canterbury Netball.

Netball New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle hopes initiatives like these will allow the Tactix to remain afloat without the need for the national body to bail them out.

Castle says the Tactix are still in a fairly solid position given their main sponsors are still on board and they only missed out on two home games - both of which they will receive revenue from. But she is mindful the Tactix will need Netball NZ's on-going support in other areas.

"We are working closely with them but there is no doubt over the coming months there are going to be some challenging conversations," said Castle. "It's not an emergency situation, we're just working through it with them as we would with any of our franchises."

But there is no doubt the earthquake has been a significant setback for the franchise, which had been making strong progress after a tough 2010 season both on and off the court.

The Tactix, who finished bottom of the table last season, had endured financial problems and then had to deal with the sudden resignation of their chief executive Anthony Dawson, who is facing arson charges.

Through the leadership of chairman Kevin Eder and new chief executive Peter Smith, the Tactix were starting to right the ship this year after merging with Canterbury Netball's regional operations.

But many of their plans to bolster their development and high performance programmes are likely to be put on the backburner.

The courts at the Christchurch Netball Centre were badly damaged in the quake and will require significant investment to get them operational.

While Canterbury Netball does not run the courts, Castle said the netball centre would need the support of its region to get back up and running.

"It's really about everyone getting over who's in charge and that sort of stuff and saying, 'Right - we've got a job to do, we've got a whole lot of kids that want to get on the court, how are we going to do that?'," she said.

Castle will be in Christchurch today and tomorrow to meet regional sports authorities to plot the way forward.

In tonight's other ANZ Championship match Queensland Firebirds take on the Vixens in Melbourne.

ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP

Round eight - tonight's games:
* 7.40pm Canterbury Tactix v Southern Steel, Christchurch.
* 9.40pm Melbourne Vixens v Queensland Firebirds, Melbourne.