Canada Basketball general manager Rowan Barrett is challenging Canadian hoops fans to buy tickets for the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifying games in Hamilton, warning that empty stands would undermine calls for star players to represent the country.
Barrett's plea to fans
During Team Canada's training camp in Toronto on Monday, Barrett addressed the need to fill TD Coliseum (formerly Copps Coliseum) for the games against Puerto Rico on Friday and Jamaica on Monday. 'I don't know why I have to put out a reminder, we need people to get out to Ticketmaster and get these tickets,' Barrett said.
'We got to fill this stadium. Our players are here. We very rarely get opportunities to play in our country, and this is a call to our whole country here,' Barrett added, referencing a common criticism about Canada's top players not playing for the national team.
Star power and stakes
Superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who hails from Hamilton, headlines the Canadian roster. Canada is 4-0 in qualifying and will advance to the final round in August and next March. The World Cup is set for next year in Qatar. Canada finished third in the 2024 edition, upsetting the United States and earning an Olympic berth for the first time since Barrett teamed with Steve Nash in Sydney in 2000.
These games mark the debut of new head coach Gordie Herbert. Despite the star power, many tickets remain unsold. 'I don't want to hear people sharing 'I want our players to play. They need to show up and play, they got to be wanting to play for their country,' and then, when they do (play), and they come here, we don't fill the stadium, right?' Barrett said.
'We're in Canada, we need to fill the stadium. There's players here that want something for their country, and their country has to want it for them too.'
