Bendigo Spirit to be honoured

The Bendigo Bank Spirit’s superb WNBL season will be recognised with a civic reception regardless of Sunday’s grand final result.

City of Greater Bendigo mayor Lisa Ruffell yesterday announced the civic reception, to be held at the Town Hall on Tuesday.

“Win, lose or draw, we want to celebrate their great team effort in making the final and in doing so, putting Greater Bendigo front and centre on the national stage,” she said.

Preparations for the big game are in full swing, with construction of the temporary stands at Bendigo Stadium to begin tomorrow and expected to finish late on Saturday.

Only tickets for two corner stands – about 160 seats – are yet to be put up for sale.

Those tickets won’t go on sale until it is known how restricted the viewing will be in some of the seats.

Some tickets allocated for Townsville and Basketball Australia might return for general public sale, with first preference going to those fans on a waiting list.

“Beyond whatever comes back from those two allocations, the only other seats will be in the corner stands,” Spirit chairman Jeremi Moule said.

“One way or the other, it’s going to be sold out.”

Mr Moule said the level of interest, not just in tickets but also in the Spirit’s fortunes, had astounded the club.

“We would describe the level of support and interest in the game as overwhelming,” he said.

“The level of interest beyond ticket sales is beyond anything we would have dreamed of, 

even when we started the club. 

“(Spirit coach) Bernie Harrower’s had people stopping him in the street, as have players – people who may never have been to a game before are saying congratulations and good luck. 

“That sort of stuff is priceless, really, and goes a long way to embedding the club in the community in a way that we always hoped we could achieve.”

Fans can follow the game via the Bendigo Advertiser live blog on our website and at our sport Twitter account @BgoAddySport.

Live coverage will also be shown on ABC TV from 3.30pm.