Hawks sponsors add 1500 new memberships in push for 'Illawarra' return

The development follows coach Brian Goorjian's passionate call for Illawarra to be returned to the franchise name, the six-time championship-winner declaring "it's time."

The NBL responded, saying its position hasn't changed since setting the lofty membership target in November after controversially stripping the region from the foundation club's logo when awarding the license to a new ownership group.

The membership drive has been complicated by the COVID pandemic's impact on the NBL season that's seen the Hawks playing group on the road full-time since since Christmas.

It's left the club management unable to confirm how many games the club will ultimately play in Wollongong, though the intention of the league and club is still to see all teams play their full complement of home games by season's end.

However, the club took a major step toward the goal on Thursday, confirming sponsors Multi Civil & Rail (MCR), No1 Draft Pick and City Motors Group will each purchase 500 Hawks Huddle Supporter memberships.

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The memberships will be used to support grassroots basketball, enhance community engagement as well as support underprivileged kids in the Illawarra region.

Club president and co-owner Dorry Kordahi labelled the commitment a significant show of faith in the direction of the club and in the quest to reinstate the Illawarra name.

"Firstly I'd like to celebrate and acknowledge the corporate support and community investment the corporate partners have made to bring the 'Illawarra' name back to The Hawks," Kordahi said.

"We will always look at innovative ways to drive positive growth and build on our club's history while looking towards a rich future. We understand this won't create overnight success, but it's a growth strategy we will build on for years to come.

"We're very thankful for the 1490 dedicated and loyal members we already have but we need to grow our Hawks community. We want to build a highly engaged fan base that expands beyond our loyal existing members and hopefully we can turn these Hawks Huddle supporter members into die-hard supporters.

"This strategy gives us the platform to start going into the community with our corporate partners and driving engagement around the Illawarra region. We hope this will be the first step of a memorable journey for many new Hawks fans."

The push to see memberships have a grassroots impact will be helped by the involvement of No 1 Draft Pick, a training academy that runs youth basketball training and development programs.

Managing director and founder Danny Kordahi said the memberships will be used to pursue the academy's core aim of developing the sport at a junior level.

"We are in the business of helping youngsters fall in love with the game of basketball," Kordahi said.

"This is a great way to further enhance their love of the game and give something back to the communities that continue to support our business. A number of the kids attending our camps wear Illawarra gear loudly and proudly and we want to support that long into the future."

MCR have long been a major backer of the club and re-affirmed that commitment last week, with operations manager Alin Finna saying the company's commitment is "not just an investment in the name, it's an investment in the community that supports this side."

City Motors Group Managing Director, Scott Wakeling echoed the call.

"We support the bold membership goals of Dorry and the new ownership group and want to help them achieve that however possible," Wakeling said.

"The owners have brought a new dynamic to this basketball side. They're driving professionalism, they're engaging the community and they have assembled a fantastic team that is already 3-0. Now we just need the name back and hopefully this will help that cause."