A MUSICIAN says he “jumped up with excitement” after finding out his campaign to renovate a seafront basketball court had been successful.

Brighton and Hove City Council announced the popular site near the i360 will be given a new floor and backboards.

Gerrald Emeagwali, also known as MagicOfficialTMC, started a petition over the summer asking the authority to “pour some love back into the court” as the well-used surface has become uneven and the backboards were on the brink of collapse.

Over the weekend, notices were pinned to the pillars supporting the hoops at the court outlining plans to refurbish the site and the council has now confirmed the work will be carried out over the next few days.

The Argus:

A spokesman said: “With the NBA finals concluding this week we thought it was the perfect time to spruce up the seafront basketball court.

“The court will be closed for the next few days as the repair works are carried out

“We can’t wait to see its fresh new look.”

Magic said he had been overjoyed after finding out the news.

The 30-year-old said: “I was really happy. I was at home and someone sent me a picture of the notice.

The Argus:

“I jumped up with excitement, I didn’t know what to do with myself. It didn’t sink in for a long time.”

Magic’s petition, “Brighton seafront basketball court renovation”, attracted almost 400 signatures as regular users of the court pledged their support.

Several of those who supported the project are part of The Mustard Collection, a group of Sussex musicians, producers, DJs and others started by Magic.

He founded the group to allow people to share their talents and “bring about change in the community” and he will soon be releasing an EP with the organisation.

The Argus:

Following news the basketball court will be renovated, Magic said he received a flurry of texts from those who had supported his campaign offering their congratulations.

He said: “I had people messaging me, getting in touch to say thank you for getting this (the renovation) done.

“It will be really good for the city, having a newly renovated basketball court on the seafront.

“It’s the most popular sport down on the seafront.

“This will add to the attraction of the area.

The Argus:

“People have not seen it renovated for many years now so this will bring in more people and offer a safe space for kids to play.”

He said that, with other recent developments in the area such as the i360, the basketball court was beginning to “stick out like a sore thumb” in its unloved state.

It will be closed for several days while the surface is renovated and new backboards are manufactured.