Melbourne Arena ready for 2019/20 NBL season

With the 2019/20 NBL season tipping off yesterday, the Melbourne Arena welcomed basketball fans with a new multimedia cube hanging above the court, additional scoreboards and enhanced lighting.

Dubbed ‘The Throwdown’, Melbourne’s first NBL derby clash between 2018/19 Grand Finalists Melbourne United and newcomers South East Melbourne Phoenix, was witnessed by a crowd of 10,300.

The $15.4 million Stage One improvements have been claimed as bringing “an NBA-like atmosphere to Melbourne Arena, taking the fan experience to a whole new level with (the) installation of new enhanced lighting on the court’s ‘cube’ audio-visual advancements, a 15-metre main entry LED screen, two new scoreboards, new corporate seating stages as well as broadcast upgrades now complete."

Further audio visual, lighting and safety upgrades are planned as well as providing even more opportunities for fans to get closer to the action on match day.

The upgrades come as a result of the Victorian Government investing $13 million to improve the venue, with the Melbourne and Olympic Parks contributing $2.4 million.

The Victorian Government’s investments in basketball also includes the redevelopment of the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South ($82 million), a business case into the construction of a new arena at the State Basketball Centre ($1 million) and the expansion of Basketball Victoria’s high-performance programs through the establishment of seven regional hubs ($5 million).

Commenting on the upgrades, Melbourne and Olympic Parks Chief Executive, John Harnden stated “this investment, coupled with the $972 Melbourne Park redevelopment, is helping entrench Melbourne's reputation as the sporting and entertainment capital of the world."

Melbourne United Chief Executive, Vince Crivelli added “the excitement and energy in the arena when the players are getting up and down the court is unlike any other entertainment offering in the country, and that shall only be enhanced with these upgrades.”

Since 2000, Melbourne Arena has played host to nearly 2,000 major events from the Australian Open to NBL, international ice hockey, cycling, boxing, dancesports, netball, gymnastics and Disney On Ice.

Image: Action from last night's season opener at the Melbourne Arena. Courtesy of Melbourne Arena.