18/07/08 The Scottish Rocks professional basketball team are pleased to announce a new long-term agreement with Culture and Sport Glasgow and Glasgow City Council. The partnership will see the Rocks ultimately play their home games from the new National Indoor Sports Arena (NISA) being built in Glasgow's east end. Until the NISA facility is ready in 2011/2012 the Rocks will be based at the Kelvin Hall. The agreement also assures support by Glasgow City Council of the highly successful 'education through sport' programmes run by Scottish Sports Futures (SSF) - a Govan based charity. The Rocks are key in the delivery of SSF programmes which are both primary school and community based. The partnership will also give Glasgow an opportunity to market itself to a UK and international audience through the Rocks. "This is an exciting time for us," said Rocks General Manager Bruce Cook. "Culture and Sport and the City Council have really stepped in to ensure that the Rocks have a very bright future. "In a few years we'll help open one of the UK's finest international sports facilities and until then we'll be based in one of the city's best locations." The new NISA facility will be ideally suited for a growing professional basketball franchise. With modern office space, training facilities, media centre, and a very fan-friendly 5,000 seat arena. Councillor Archie Graham, the Council's Executive Member for Culture and Sport and Commonwealth Games Delivery said: "We are delighted to welcome the Rocks to Glasgow and I have no doubt that by being based in Glasgow, the team will enjoy further success and attract a huge audience. "Key to this partnership is our desire to see further participation in basketball and see many more Glaswegians take-up the sport. The Rocks will be made more than welcome at Kelvin Hall and at our world-class facility at NISA in due course." At Kelvin Hall, new, permanent retractable seating and a new floor will be installed. The venue will be home to the Rocks for both practice and games, bringing them a permanent base for the first time. Cook added: "I think fans may also find the game atmosphere better than before as spectators will be closer to the court and we expect to sell out our games on a regular basis. Kelvin Hall has such a great track record that I think there will be a real buzz about the place." A seating capacity of approximately 1,200 is planned for Rocks games at Kelvin Hall. Season Ticket Holders The temporary but immediate move to Kelvin Hall will obviously come as a surprise to loyal season ticket holders - many of whom bought their tickets expecting games to be played at Braehead. "We wish there had been an easier way to do this for our fans," Cook said. "We had been looking at several possibilities over the past couple months and there was nothing we could say publicly without jeopardising our discussions." Cook also wanted to reassure fans of their likely experience and their options. "Anyone who has pre-purchased their tickets for next season will obviously have an opportunity to request a refund, but we are sure our fans will love the new set- up. "Once the seats and floor have arrived, we'll arrange a date for fans to come down and have a look. We'll get the new team out on the court and once they see it all set up, I think they'll really like what they see. "In the meantime, I'm happy to talk to any fans who want to discuss the situation." On Leaving Braehead The Rocks will leave Braehead Arena after six seasons at the Renfrew venue. Long-considered the best venue in the BBL, the decision to leave was not an easy one for Rocks management. "This is not a decision we made easily or took lightly," said Rocks owner Ian Reid. "Braehead has been a fantastic home to us for six seasons and we've been proud to play in such a fine facility. Ultimately this decision was about the future of the Rocks, and Glasgow has given us an opportunity for growth that also makes good business sense. "I'd also like to thank everyone at Braehaed for six fantastic seasons here. It'll be very hard to leave, but we have to look ahead to an even more positive future." The Rocks Squad While the Rocks venue situation has been the most pressing issue of late, fans are to be reassured that the playing squad has not been forgotten. A minimum of three significant player signings are expected to be announced by the end of July. Player/coach Sterling Davis had this to say on the situation: "The move will be a bit of an adjustment, but some of the guys think it might even help us on the court. We know how tough it's been to play on the road in some of the League's smaller venues with the crowd right on top of you. Hopefully we can return that favour now. I'll be able to get you some more specific comments once we finalise a few of these signings I'm working on. Hopefully it won't be too long."
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