The Canberra Capitals have set their sights on building on a season-high crowd in a bid to set the standard for fan engagement in the WNBL.
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The WNBL has endured a host of teething problems following the launch of its live streaming service which has frustrated some.
![Kia Nurse has starred for the Capitals in front of strong crowds this season. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong Kia Nurse has starred for the Capitals in front of strong crowds this season. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc7843j4i8oix1k6baelqy.jpg/r0_0_5338_3013_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
But it has still resulted in improved visibility for the league - now the next task is turning those viewers into paying customers.
The crowd that helped bring the Capitals home in a stirring fourth quarter against Perth last weekend again suggests a genuine investment to engage with fans is worth every cent.
The Capitals will look to build on their season-high crowd of 1604 when they host the Townsville Fire at the National Convention Centre on Saturday.
"The WNBL is a great product and you see that on the court every week with the closeness of the games and quality of the players," Capitals coach Paul Goriss said.
"Regardless of the streaming, getting bums on seats and people to the game is really important.
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"Our home crowd is up there with the very best in the league. You hear that roar from the crowd behind us, especially at the NCC.
"You know you've got the support behind you. It makes you more in tune with the game.
"That home court advantage we have, now that it's at 15 wins [in a row at home], the crowd is definitely a part of that."
Rest assured Capitals star Kia Nurse could feel the love in a 32-12 run to close out the game.
"Canberra has always done that in their own way, they're always a sixth man for us out there on the court so it was really awesome," Nurse said.
![Perth Lynx's Alison Schwagmeyer-Belger and the Canberra Capitals' Gemma Potter. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong Perth Lynx's Alison Schwagmeyer-Belger and the Canberra Capitals' Gemma Potter. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc7843jzhsx2hjs11i91t.jpg/r0_273_5338_3286_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"Shout out to the [Weston Creek Woden] Dodgers team, which is my adopted team, with 97 people.
"It's always really to play in an environment like that. For us to have had that quarter that we did, we switched gears and made sure we got it done towards the end there.
"That was a lot of fun, but I think also, it becomes deflating for the other team when the crowd gets into it."
WNBL ROUND SEVEN
Saturday: Canberra Capitals v Townsville Fire at National Convention Centre, 5pm. Tickets from Ticketek.