Live & Loud 09/10

Townsville McDonald’s Crocodiles, formerly known as the Townsville Suns, are widely regarded as one of the most successful and professionally-managed franchises in the National Basketball League. Since the club’s inception into the NBL in 1993, the Crocodiles have enjoyed enviable community support and financial stability.

With the highest sponsorship and membership base in the league, the franchise is often used as a benchmark for other teams in the competition. The club set an Australian record for attendances in the NBL when they sold out their first 69 games at The Furnace (capacity 4141), a streak that was only broken after the venue was expanded for the 1998 season and renamed The Swamp (new capacity of 5257). Over the years, The Swamp faithful have maintained their long-standing reputation as one of the most loyal and passionate in the competition and the venue reigns as both the best in the NBL and the toughest to play in as voted by players in recent polls. In 2006/07, the Crocodiles averaged the highest attendances in the league and with an average attendance of over 4600 per game, were the only franchise to average more than 4600 patrons per game.

The fans at The Swamp were also voted as the ‘Most Vocal’ while Townsville’s Croc mascot also won his second selection as the league’s ‘Best Mascot’. Over the past 15 seasons, more than 1,000,000 people have attended Crocodiles home games. The fact that The Swamp continues to lead the league as the number one venue is testament to the strong support the club receives each season from dedicated sponsors and members.

The Crocodiles are a community based club for the people of Townsville and North Queensland. The Crocodiles are actively involved in the local community and support a range of charities and non-profit organizations including Ronald McDonald House, Camp Quality and Queensland Cancer Fund to name a few. The club also is committed to growing basketball at a grass roots level and developing and nurturing young basketball talent. A number of programs are in place including primary school basketball clinics, the Townsville Tropics Program and the McDonald’s Sharp Start Program.

The success and popularity of the Crocodiles translates into high media exposure and coverage especially throughout Townsville and North Queensland via media outlets such as Seven, WIN News, Southern Cross Ten, The Townsville Bulletin, Courier Mail, Sunday Mail and radio stations 4TOFM/HOTFM. Coverage is also at a premium through non associated media outlets throughout the country via free to air television and pay television.