Taipans homecoming on 4 December

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans will make their long-awaited return to the refurbished Cairns Convention Centre on Saturday 4 December, which will be the club’s first game back on their home court in almost two years. Hosting the Breakers to break the ice, Taipans fans will enjoy three consecutive Saturday night fixtures to start the season, before Cairns rings in 2022 with the traditional New Year’s Eve game officially confirmed this morning.
 
The NBL have released the full schedule for the 2021-22 season, set to tip-off on the new date of Friday 3 December, and continue through to the end of April. The Taipans will host the Kings for the very last game of the NBL regular season on Sunday 24 April. Provided there are no interruptions, it is expected that the competition (including the grand final series) will conclude by the end of May.
 
Other highlights for the Taipans include hosting the Tasmania JackJumpers for the franchise’s first ever road game, a Boxing Day game in Brisbane, and an Easter celebration in Cairns, against the Hawks. All games will be broadcast live on ESPN with Sunday fixtures to be simulcast live on free-to-air 10 Peach.
 
Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft said the club will take a flexible approach to the fixtures; however, it was pleasing to see the current schedule provided a balanced home and away matches.
 
“We have been really fortunate with the schedule this season – lots of Friday, Saturday and Sunday games which is a great reward for our fans that not only had to deal with numerous changes last season but made an extra effort to support us in our displacement and come watch us at the pop-up arena,” said Mr Beecroft.
 
“There is an entirely new energy around our group this year – the coaching staff have been first-class, and the team has been impressive throughout the pre-season so far. They will be ready for whatever this year’s competition throws at them, but right now the schedule is great, and we cannot wait to finally welcome the Orange Army back home to the Cairns Convention Centre.”
 
NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger says the league has also built contingency plans for when borders reopen, vaccination rates reach state targets, venues become unavailable due to other events, lockdown rules ease and crowds are allowed back in arenas.
 
“There are a lot of factors to consider, and we’ve tried to plan for them all, so as some or all of those various events unfold and begin to materialise, we will enter a different phase of the schedule and certain things change as a result and as we deem necessary,” he said.
 
“We are confident that as the country opens back up, our schedule will open up with it and we will get back to running the competition like we used to with all teams playing and traveling from their home bases.”
 
Details of a pre-season tournament will be announced soon.
 
Taipans memberships are on sale now (join to save 25% across the entire season) with single-game tickets available from HQ tomorrow.