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The $24 million redeveloped Ballarat Sports Events Centre will be officially opened on Sunday at 11am.
The Ballarat Sports Events Centre project will significantly change the indoor sporting experience in Ballarat, particularly through the inclusion of a new 3000-seat show court and additional courts capable of hosting a range of events including netball, basketball, volleyball and badminton.
This project will see six new courts added to the existing two-court Wendouree Sports and Events Centre, making it one of the biggest facilities in the region.
The first stage of the project has received $5 million in funding from the City of Ballarat, $10 million from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, and $9 million from the Victorian Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund.
A further $5.2 million was also announced in the recent Victorian Government budget for stage two works at the centre.
City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh says the outstanding state-of-the-art facility will deliver a major boost to local netball, basketball and badminton.
“The Ballarat Sports Events Centre is a premier community facility for a range of local sports,” she says.
“Already the centre is generating a significant return for Ballarat, attracting major events and sports stars, including LaMelo Ball, one of the most exciting young basketball prospects.
“Major sporting events provide an economic benefit to our city – they fill our hotel beds and the seats of our local cafes, restaurants and bars. It just shows the possibilities that are open to Ballarat with facilities available of this quality.
“Our congratulations go to Basketball Ballarat which has worked tirelessly with the City of Ballarat’s Sport and Active Living and Major Projects teams to achieve this fantastic facility.”
Recent announcements highlight BSEC will host:
National Basketball League teams Melbourne United and the Illawarra Hawks – this will be the first major sports event to christen the new centre, in an exhibition game on Friday 13 September. This event will feature global sensation LaMelo Ball, who will play for the Illawarra Hawks the 4th Annual Basketball Australia Coaches Conference from 2-3 October 2019, which will move to Victoria and Ballarat for the first time, and five state level championship events from 2020-2022. BSEC and the Minerdome will host the U16 and U18 Division three and four Championships over the next three years, while also hosting the Under-14 Country Championships in 2020 and the Under-12 Country Championships in 2022.