New $30 million regional basketball centre to be built in Newcastle

The NSW Government has announced that it will fund the construction of a regional level, indoor basketball facility in Newcastle to be built opposite the McDonald Jones Stadium in Broadmeadow.

Committing an additional $5 million to an original $25 million commitment for what was previously intended to be a new stadium in the suburb of Charlestown the new venue will be built on a Crown Land site managed by City of Newcastle.

The 12-court stadium will be built in two stages; stage one seeing the construction of up to eight courts, and stage two including a show court for 2,000 spectators.

It will also provide a facility that allows Newcastle to finally have a team in the Women’s National Basketball League.

Welcoming the backing for the new venue, City of Newcastle Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes stated “for more than half a century Newcastle has been the physical and spiritual home of basketball in this region, with a proud tradition of developing players who have gone on to represent the sport at the highest level.”

Newcastle Basketball's ability to meet the demand for the sport in the region has been constrained by the ageing stadium at Broadmeadow, which, Lord Mayori Nelmes comments, “is no longer fit for purpose as local basketball booms in popularity”, adding “Newcastle will have a venue capable of not only hosting a professional women’s team, but also state and national basketball tournaments, which will increase tourism and deliver positive economic benefits for local businesses.”

Image shows the concept for the exterior of the new venue. Credit: City of Newcastle.