ILT Stadium Southland will become party central again this October when the Schick Cup 3×3 comes south for three days of fast basketball action.

The stadium is into its second year of a three-year contract with Basketball New Zealand and the focus is on the ‘party product,’ where supporters are encouraged to dress up and get amongst it.

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General manager Nigel Skelt said the 2020 cup was “hugely successful” with strong crowds for the both the semi and finals, but this year they were hoping for support right from the get go.

“We want the party product. We are the title holders so we want to get that trophy,” he said.

Invercargill continued to be a destination for New Zealand basketball and it was important the public got right behind the sport and showed support for the players.

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He said the New Zealand players were heading to the Olympics in July where they were expected to do well, which was great preparation for the big Southern event.

The hype will start early when 80 players will be drafted ahead of the 2021 series, which also includes the new Schick Christmas Classic at the SkyCity Theatre in December.

NBL general manager Justin Nelson said he thinks this innovation will build in the coming years to become the live sport party-event of choice for young people.

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“This is our new party product. We know we have something great for the fans after the fast, furious and physical Schick 3X3 Cup last year. The action was constant, the players were firing, the music was pumping and the fans were dancing. It makes for awesome live entertainment, as well as a great broadcast for the fans.”

Adding to the excitement, the NBL has guaranteed equal pay for all players in this year’s expanded 3X3 season with over $175,000 to be evenly shared across the women’s and men’s competitions.

Nelson says equal pay was essential given this is a joint product where one court, one broadcast, and one player-payment pot is shared across both the men’s and women’s events.

“The NBL is extremely passionate about the 3X3 product and the way we all support each other. We saw that directly from the players at our first event last November, they embraced it and loved sharing the spotlight together.

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Former Sky Sport Tall Ferns star Donna Wilkins, who commentated during the Sky Sport broadcast of last year’s inaugural Schick Cup in Invercargill, says she’s impressed with how this new initiative has grown from its inauguration last November.

“Basketball New Zealand has made a massive step in announcing equal pay for their women and men’s players across the 3X3 season. This is huge for the development of our women’s game and profile, and a big step in the right direction going forward. Being involved with the 3X3 Schick Cup last year was fantastic. This brand of basketball is super exciting for the spectators and the players. It is extremely intense and fast paced, a game for the future.”

2021 NBL 3X3 Season

Schick 3X3 Draft Fortnight | Presented by SkyCity (dates TBC)

Days 1-5: Draft Registration
Days 6-7: Teams recruit a captain (20)
Day 8: Captains announced for women’s teams (10)
Day 9: Captain’s announced for men’s teams (10)
Day 10: Draft order revealed for both drafts
Day 11: Live Draft – women
Day 12: Live Draft – men
Days 13-14: Trade Weekend

Schick Cup | Presented by SkyCity (Oct 14-16)
ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Schick Christmas Classic | Presented by SkyCity (Dec 9-11)
Hosted by SkyCity Theatre, Auckland

Schick 3×3 Basketball League Returning

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