News Release: Amendment
Office of the Mayor

2 May 2011

Breakers' historic win to be marked with
Queen Street Parade

Amendment: The parade up Queen Street for the NZ Breakers will happen on Friday afternoon (6 May 2011).

The Mayor has announced that the NZ Breakers' historic win in the Grand Final of the Australian NBL is to be marked with a parade up Queen Street.

The Breakers created Australasian sporting history with their win at the North Shore Events Centre on Friday night, becoming the first New Zealand team in any sports code to win a title in a professional Australian sports league.

Len Brown was court side for both Game One and Game Three of the Grand Final. Afterwards he discussed with team management how best Auckland could recognise the performance of the Breakers in the competition.

The team agreed to a proposal for Auckland Council to stage a parade up Queen Street followed by an event for fans in Aotea Square.

"I am absolutely stoked that the first New Zealand team to beat the very best Aussie team in an Australian professional sports league was an Auckland-based team. We're working on strategies to make Auckland an events capital. Having great teams like the Breakers producing outstanding performances as we have seen over the past few weeks can only help us achieve that," says the Mayor.

"It's also a sign of things to come as we prepare to welcome the world to Auckland for RWC 2011. I have no doubt the All Blacks will take heart from what the Breakers have done as they look forward to that tournament.

"The people of the North Shore be should particularly proud of the team which has always called that part of Auckland home.”

"I am hoping as many Aucklanders as possible will be able to make it to Queen Street for the parade and to help the Breakers celebrate making sporting history," says Len Brown.

The Breakers have expressed the wish that this be a family friendly occasion and as a result the parade will take place on Friday. More details will announced shortly.

Ends

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