Sheffield Sharks took on the Newcastle Eagles on Sunday, cruising to a 86-56 win, which marked their first win in the new 2500-capacity venue.
The sold-out game took place in the Canon Medical Arena, a £14m venue built to be the joint home of the Sharks and the Hatters.
The Sharks welcomed the crowd with one of their strongest performances of the BBL Championship season so far.
The match saw senior Sharks players such as Bennett Koch and Jubril Adekoya stepping up for the occasion, but what caught the attention of many fans was the importance of new signings such as Parker Stewart and R.J Eytle-Rock.
Atiba Lyons, Head coach, said: “It’s real, it’s here now. All the commitment, all our hard work, it’s paid off.”
Tom Walshaw, owner of ‘At the buzzer UK’ and avid Sharks fan, said: “We’ve got the strongest and deepest squad we’ve had in a long time – it’s a very competitive team this season.”
Mr Walshaw said: “It was a special atmosphere; it was a special afternoon. And I think it’s one that’ll live in Sharks fans’ memories for a long time.”
He identified the new arena as a step in the right direction to help the sport grow regionally, with organisations such as Sky Sports providing TV coverage of league games.
Another sign of growth is the clear pathways being presented to children to increase their interest in the sport, with basketball programmes and teams becoming more accessible across Sheffield.
Regarding the lack of national interest in Basketball, Mr Walshaw described ‘gross underfunding from the government’ as a contributing factor.
He said: “There’s no negatives to kids playing basketball – it taught me teamwork, respect and discipline. Plus, it really is the most inclusive sport you will ever find.
“There is a strong basketball identity in Sheffield, and I feel like it’s ready to explode.”
