Basketball Otago board member Simon Clarke is hopeful 2000 people will turn out for the Nuggets' first home game since May 2008.
The franchise pulled out of the National Basketball league last year but is back this season and, if Clarke has read the community's mood correctly, tonight's game against the Christchurch Cougars will be well supported.
"I'd be absolutely rapt if we got a crowd of 2000 people," Clarke said. "But I'd be more than happy if those people went back home and told one friend each it was a great night."
The Nuggets had a dreadful trot between 2005-2008, losing 63 of their 72 games. Despite the lean run, the crowds remained relatively healthy.
It was a bad night when spectator numbers dropped below 1000, and most evenings from 1000 to 1300 people turned up.
Clarke, who is on the franchise management group, believes the Nuggets can build on their support base by engaging more with the basketball community.
"I don't think basketball got too far away from its roots but we just want to make sure the community feels involved and gets behind the Nuggets."
Clarke acknowledged the franchise had given many tickets away in the past, and said it would continue to do so until it could fill the stadium with paying customers.
"It is only a loss if you can't sell somebody a ticket because you've given it away. That's when you lose money, but we are not in that situation."
