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BiGStorage is a self-storage operator and business centre provider, who established their first facility and head office on Sealand Road, Chester last year and now have 6 facilities across Cheshire and Lancashire including Macclesfield, Handforth Dean and Warrington, which opens later this year. Andrew Donaldson, (on the right in the photo with Jets big man Billy Singleton) one of the founding partners and a Chester resident, set-up his original business 16 years ago with the help of the Chester office of The Prince's Trust and has remained committed to supporting local initiatives across Cheshire ever since.
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Andrew comments "The sponsorship opportunity not only allows BiG Storage to increase their brand awareness across Chester and Cheshire but also reflects our commitment to help the local community by delivering programs to local primary and secondary schools. We hope our support will build brand loyalty to BiG Storage in the local community as well as educating home movers and businesses about the benefits of using self-storage."
The team will be renamed BiG Storage Cheshire Jets, to reflect the new club's ambitions to deliver top level basketball to a wider audience across the county and the wider interests of the principal sponsor. However, the club's home will very much remain the City of Chester and Northgate Arena. One of the primary aims of the new set-up will be to establish a community programme throughout the county. As part of this aim, a maximum of three "home" games will be played at alternative venues across Cheshire.
The new company which has been set up to run the Jets organisation, was born of a group of loyal fans who were determined that one of the great names of British basketball should not be allowed to die. The management team is made up of a number of people with extensive basketball and business experience. These are supported by a big band of loyal, skilled and enthusiastic volunteers.
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The new club is built on the firm foundations established by Mike "Mr Basketball" Burton, who retired at the end of last season, after twenty years of outstanding service. He still remains active in youth basketball in the area, and has been exceptionally supportive to the new team's efforts to keep the club afloat. It is no exaggeration to say that without him none of this would have been possible, and the club and fans owe him a massive debt of gratitude.
BBL chairman Paul Blake enthused "I am delighted that the Jets are able to continue in the British Basketball League and am confident that the new management group will be able to build on the solid foundations put in place by Mike (Burton)."
There is already great activity underway in terms of recruiting the coaching and playing staff for the coming season. Preliminary discussions with a number of high profile candidates for the position of coach have started and several established BBL players including, but not exclusively, ex-Jets favourites have expressed considerable interest. The club's aim is to put together a squad that will blend youth and experience and will be very competitive in the league.
In addition to striving for success on the court, the club is determined to establish a major and comprehensive community programme of basketball for the young people of the area. The plan is for more than 5,000 school age children to be involved with Jets organised and run basketball-linked activities during next season. Very encouraging meetings with both Chester City and Cheshire County Councils and the education sector has demonstrated widespread support for the programme.
Spokesman Pete Hawkins comments, "We have been overwhelmed by the astonishingly high levels of interest and support that we have received. We are very grateful to those fans who have put their hands in their pockets and paid up front for a season ticket when there was no certainty that there would be a team to watch and to those "Friends of the Jets", supporters of other BBL teams, who have made generous cash donations, to help keep us afloat. We would also like to pay tribute to the BBL for all their support and guidance, in what was, at times, a seemingly impossible uphill struggle. With all that in mind, we are confident that we can live up to all these peoples' trust in us. We have a sound business plan, and we remain convinced that we can offer excellent value for supporters both on and off the court - so the Northgate should once again be full of the committed and enthusiastic support that the Jets have rightly been renowned for across British Basketball!"
Further updates relating to the recruitment of coach and players, community activities and other events will be released over the coming weeks. |
