NSW Government commits $25 million to new Basketball Stadium in City of Lake Macquarie

A new 10-court indoor stadium, which will include a show court capable of seating 4000 spectators, is to be built in the City of Lake Macquarie areas as a result of a $25 million commitment from the NSW Government.

The new arena, to be built in the southern Newcastle suburb of Hillsborough, will host the basketball, netball and volleyball as well as wheelchair sports, futsal and school sports.

With construction due to begin this year, NSW Minister for Sport John Sidoti has advised “this is the most significant investment in the history of basketball in the region and will have the capability to host international, national and state tournaments.”

The new venue is expected to attract a significant number of events to the region, with Newcastle Basketball General Manager Neil Goffet stating “there are so many tournaments just in basketball alone that are crying out for a stadium of this size, so it will be a tremendous asset for the entire region.”

Once completed, the new facility will provide Newcastle Basketball with a facility compliant with WNBL requirements and the potential to attract a team in the WNBL competition.

Goffet told the Newcastle Herald “we've been in discussions with Basketball Australia for two to three years.

"Those discussions will obviously ramp up now because we will have a compliant and capable facility built within two years, hopefully.

"The facility was the first step (and) we will have a facility built that meets regulations for any national or international competition that comes our way.

"Hopefully Basketball Australia have expansion plans on the horizon and we can be part of those."

Goffet was confident that as an association, Newcastle Basketball, with the help of sponsors, would be able to financially sustain a WNBL team, advising "I think we could run a WNBL team, with community support, in regards to sponsorships and partnerships."

Also welcoming the new venue, Basketball Australia Deputy Chair David Reid concluded “this new stadium will give basketball the injection it desperately needs in the Hunter region and we can’t wait to see the new stadium hosting some of the best talent in the sport.”