Parade Celebrating Southland Sport Successes

C’mon Southland, let’s get behind our sporting success and celebrate with the Southern Steel, Southland Sharks, and Southland cricket team in a fantastic ticker-tape parade!

This Thursday, from 4pm, our trifecta of national champions will parade along Esk Street, from Dee Street, finishing at the Invercargill City Council building.

Let’s not forget just how amazing these achievements have been, with the Southland cricket team bringing home the Hawke Cup for the first time in 26 years in March, the Southland Sharks claiming their third NBL championship in the history of the NBL earlier this month, and, most recently, the Southern Steel taking out a back-to-back win of the ANZ Premiership grand final on Sunday.

Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel captain Wendy Frew said the team would love to see the streets packed for the parade.

May 6th 1999 Eight hundred Southlanders boarded buses at Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill for the free ride to cheer on the Southern Sting in the final. The buses were organized by the ILT – Invercargill Licensing Trust A crowd of 20,000 turned out to cheer the victorious Southern Sting as they paraded through Invercargill city Centre on their return from Dunedin.

“We are stoked to have this chance to celebrate with our community. This win isn’t just ours as a team, it’s everyone’s to share and enjoy because our awesome region and the support we get week in, week out plays a massive role in our success,” she said.

“Southern sport punches well above its weight and our three national trophies so far this season reflects that. This trifecta is an incredible moment in our sporting history.”

Ticker-tape will be handed out to the public on the day, and people are encouraged to arrive early to ensure they get a good spot to watch and cheer from!