By Patrick Avenell
Harvey Norman has ended its five-year sponsorship deal with the New Zealand Breakers NBL team. The exact reasons for this decision are currently unknown, but the closing of three teams since the last season drastically reduces brand exposure, especially in Sydney.
Harvey Norman was the New Zealand Breakers inaugural major sponsor, originally signing on for the 2003/04 NBL season. During that time, the Breakers only made one post-season appearance and regularly lost twice as many games as they won.
Harvey Norman is still represented in the NBL, however, with the retailer enjoying membership of the Adelaide 36ers’ Courtside Club and associate partner status at the Cairns Taipans. The Joyce Mayne arm of the Harvey Norman family is a current sponsor of the Townsville Crocodiles.
Also sponsoring the NBL are WOW Sight & Sound (Cairns Taipains) and the Good Guys (Gold Coast Blaze and Townsville Crocodiles).