The Illawarra name will return for the upcoming NBL season, if the Hawks reach a new membership target. Following a corporate and community backlash over the decision to dump the name and simply call the club ‘The Hawks’, the new owners and the NBL announced on Friday morning, Illawarra would be reinstated. However, it will only happen if a membership drive can secure a specific target of 4379 members for the 2021 season, a delayed start due to ongoing Covid concerns. The figure has been reached as a symbolic gesture, given the only remaining foundation club has been in the NBL for 43 seasons, starting in ’79 (1979). In a statement obtained by the Mercury, the NBL will also need to see “significant support from the local business comm…
Read the full article at: https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6999851/hawks-to-reinstate-illawarra-name-if-new-nbl-membership-target-is-reached/