Premier marks public opening of new State Basketball Centre

Victoria’s new home of basketball – the State Basketball Centre (SBC) – officially opened this week, adding to the State Sport Centres Trust’s suite of state-significant venues.

The $132-million redevelopment at Wantirna South will host basketball training, pathways programs and competition from grass roots to professional and high- performance levels.

SSCT assumed control of the world-class venue in December last year after Development Victoria led construction of the site.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, Knox City Council mayor Jude Dwight and Basketball Victoria CEO Nick Honey were among the more than 100 guests that helped open the new facility on January 16.

The Victorian Government provided $105 million for the redevelopment, while Knox City Council contributed $27 million.

The SBC, situated within Knox Regional Sports Park, includes 12 new indoor community courts supporting the huge local demand for competition and training, in addition to the six existing courts .

The venue will host high-performance training and administration facilities for NBL team South-East Melbourne Phoenix and WNBL team Southside Flyers.

The new development is home to Knox Basketball Inc and Basketball Victoria who will base their administration at SBC to best support the continuing growth of their sport in the area.

The new centre will double as a new gymnastics hub, the home of Knox Gymnastics, and includes a dedicated, custom- built gymnastics centre.

Further upgrades of the existing site, including to the original six basketball courts and surrounding administration and function spaces, are expected to finish later this year.