After a history-making year in which the Illawarra Hawks finished the regular season on top of the NBL ladder, it’s now down to the business end as the playoffs begin on Friday, 28 February.
The high-flying Hawks will go into the game against SE Melbourne Phoenix as favourites given the home court advantage and a guaranteed full house. Within minutes of tickets going on sale at 10am yesterday, it was a sell out.
This city has never experienced ‘Hawks mania’ at this level.
Lord Mayor Tania Brown is encouraging every Wollongong and Illawarra resident to show their support for the team and ‘paint the town red’, urging businesses to fly the Hawks flag proudly during the play-off series.
Capping a huge season, on Thursday night at the Hawks' end of season presentation night, three players were jointly named winners of the MVP of the Year Award, Tyler Harvey, Sam Froling and Trey Kell III.
Despite a stellar season the Hawks will have a fight on its hands in next week’s playoff opener. In their three meetings this season, all were nail-biters, with the Melbourne team taking two wins.
Hawks on the move at Beaton Park
With all the team’s success on court, the Hawks are also preparing for big moves off court too.
Over the summer Wollongong City Council advertised the Hawks' intention to take a three-year lease over the now vacant former sports medicine building at Beaton Park Leisure Centre. The Hawks are yet to confirm how they’ll use the building and whether it will replace the current demountable office and administration accommodation.
In a statement, Council said the Beaton Park building is “currently tenanted by Tennis Wollongong, who are temporarily housed in this building whilst works are completed at the adjoining tennis courts. Tennis Wollongong will be relocating shortly as the tennis court project nears completion”.
Responding to questions from the Illawarra Flame about the timing of the notification of the proposed new lease agreement, Council said: “The notification of a proposed licence agreement is for a statutory 28-day period.
“Notification started on 18 December 2024 and closed on 16 January 2025. There was one late formal submission received that was not for or against the project but raised some concerns in regard to the operations. This submission has been included for consideration as part of the proposed agreement.”
Council said it also advertised a licence for the operation of the tennis courts at Beaton Park over the same 28-day period during December and January. It also confirmed any agreement with the Hawks “will meet the requirements of a commercial lease".
“The approach is consistent with occupants and services operating from the medical centre facility at Beaton Park to ensure alignment with the Beaton Park Plan of Management and to complement other activities within the precinct,” the Council statement said.
Council said the proposed new licence agreement did not relate to an earlier move by Council to free up Ted Tobin Hall at Beaton Park for use by the Hawks.
Late last year after concerns were raised, Council made a commitment to sporting groups that used Ted Tobin Hall, including table tennis, badminton and pickleball, that no sports would be relocated until equal or better facilities could be found elsewhere. Those sporting groups say there’s been no progress to date.
Sauna refurbishment underway
Meanwhile, in other news at Beaton Park, the centre’s ageing saunas are closed for a major refurbishment. Works to be undertaken include the complete demolition of existing fixtures, removal of floor tiles, waterproofing, insulation panelling and heating units.
