The tone from Janie Finlay's voice was a decibel or more higher than it is most nights after Launceston Tornadoes claim a hometown victory.
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That excitement this time was for the official word and nod from the NBL hierarchy: Tasmania was now in.
So when NBL owner and chief executive Larry Kestelman stood up at the podium on February 28 to proclaim the state "deserves teams in a national sporting league" to put it "on the world sporting stage", the moment left a sizeable imprint on the mind of the Tornadoes president come NBL Tasmania adviser.
"I was so impressed with Larry that clearly this is a team for all Tasmanians," Finlay said immediately after.
"For both Launceston and Northern Tasmania, it will mean we will have games in the north of the state.
"Having worked with him for sometime, I can tell that one of his highest order values is family. He'll get the team and players in doing some community work.
"He'll really drive well into the grassroots of the sport. He wants to drive this to be the No.1 sport in Tasmania and he'll do it equally in Launceston than anywhere else.
"I suspect because we won't have as many games in the North, he will over-invest in community engagement."
Launceston last had a NBL side in 1980 until 1982 and Devonport in 1983 and 1984 before Hobart shone for the state from 1983 until 1996.
But the days of the three largest Tasmanian cities left to pull against each other is over under the one banner.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"One of the things I trust about Larry and he says this openly, he came into the environment of operating in Tasmania without history on the north-south," Finlay said.
"The North-West coast is probably the most intense and passionate of sporting communities in Tasmania and he recognises that.
"So when he brought the preseason Blitz to Tassie last year, he saw the people turn up."
The team will call Hobart home when they are not on the road, but a refurbishment of the stadium in Launceston much like the one set to take place inside the Derwent Entertainment Centre is certain to ensure they will come.
The Silverdome was slated for a cycling velodrome and has meanwhile turned into the state's prime netball hub.
So it appears paramount the shared home court that was built in 1984 increases its capacity from a little more than 3000 spectators after additional temporary seating to ensure it reaches the NBL standards set by Kestelman.
"I can tell you is that he is willing to invest in partnership with others and that is possibly going to be the government to ensure he brings games to Launceston in the first season," Finlay said.
"But it will take a while and that will be a heavy investment to deliver so the quality of the experience is equal.
"What this decision does for Northern Tasmania is provide foundation of ongoing work that we have been talking about improving facilities in the North.
"It gives the capability and reality of creating our own exceptional facilities because we've known for some time we have a significant court shortage."
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