Thunder sticks removed from premiership netball games in sustainability efforts

ANZ’s thunder sticks have been removed from all Auckland netball games, leaving fans wondering.

A new need for sustainability has seen the plastic thunder sticks replaced with new recyclable ANZ Premiership posters, making their debut at the Bruce Pulman Arena last weekend.

Crowds at the first game of the 2023 ANZ Premiership season were left surprised by this sudden change, with the sticks being the pinnacle of support for games for years.

Conflicting opinions from Auckland netball fans mixed with ANZ Premiership Netball staff have been circulating this week.

Auckland netball fan Gail Hendricks has noticed the change in crowd morale throughout the arena.

“I have been coming to these games with my kids since they were young and although we are helping the environment by replacing the plastic bangers with posters, you can definitely hear a difference in crowd volume without them.” states Hendricks.

Media manager of the Robinhood Stars, Reuben Mama, expresses the importance of this new change.

“They were a great tool for adding a lively atmosphere. They’ve encouraged fans to be more creative and has provided an outlet for their voices to be heard … Fans are also a lot more focused on watching the games unfold in front of them and being in the moment of a live game.”

Mama believes that this change is for the better and will hopefully inspire other sport teams to get involved with the movement.

With the season just getting started, there is speculation that fans will become accustomed to this new normal.