The Tigers are on the move
Mersey Tigers will have a new home for the 2011/12 season – the Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park in Huyton.
The venue, based on Longview Drive, is part of a multi-million pound investment in sports and leisure in the borough of Knowsley.
The Tigers were keen to secure a permanent Merseyside home, having had to take games to Manchester and Warrington last season. The Tigers will also develop the sport of basketball within the local community to potentially unearth the next local Tigers star in the making.
Cllr Eddie Connor, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, says: “We are delighted that the Tigers have chosen Knowsley as their new home. The venue will offer them first class sporting facilities that will hopefully help them to build on their fan base and enhance their growing reputation.
“Knowsley has a strong sporting history, with many national and international stars being born and raised in the borough. It would be nice one day to have the name of a local basketball player alongside such names as Steven Gerrard, Peter Reid and John Conteh.”
A Tigers club spokesman said: “We are extremely grateful to Knowsley Council for all their assistance in making this happen.
“We are delighted to have secured our home for next season. We cannot stress how important this is for the club and its future. It means we can now focus on marketing our games, selling season tickets and looking for sponsorship, all of which help the club run, not only to pay wages, but to invest in our community and education programmes.”
he Tigers have picked up the British Basketball League (BBL) Championship and BBL Trophy titles and finished of the season with a win over Sheffield Sharks in the play-offs Final.
Knowsley MP George Howarth said: “Basketball is an increasingly popular sport, providing great family entertainment. The Mersey Tigers is one of the top clubs in the British Basketball League and, as a Knowsley MP, I am delighted that they will be playing the majority of their home games next year in Knowsley.
“This is a great opportunity for the Mersey Tigers to play at a stable venue and I would urge people to attend events and experience the thrills and spills of a fast-moving and enjoyable sport at first-hand.”
A selection of home games will also be played at the Echo Arena, to help raise exposure of the club in the region and season tickets are on sale now!Season tickets are now available priced at £150 adults, £60 juniors, £105 student/OAPs. There are also a number of family packages available, and they can be purchased via www.merseytigers.co.uk/shop or by calling 0151 203 3443.
Please be aware that the Mersey Tigers official website is now located at www.merseytigers.co.uk
