Victoria’s State Basketball Centre expansion complete
The $132 million upgrade of the Victoria’s State Basketball Centre at the Knox Regional Sports Park has officially opened, featuring 12 new indoor courts and state-of-the-art facilities.
The new courts bring the total number of indoor courts to 18 at the facility, while it also features a dedicated high-performance training and administration facility for NBL team South-East Melbourne Phoenix and the WNBL’s Southside Flyers.
These administration facilities will also be used by local sports organisations and clubs to ensure more grassroots clubs have the best facilities and infrastructure to support basketball’s growth in Victoria for generations to come.
Knox Regional Sports Park precinct has also been boosted by a new town square with food and beverage venues, while road upgrades will make it easier and more accessible for locals and visitors to access the park.
Works are underway to upgrade the existing original six basketball courts and surrounding admin and function spaces to further service the community and sport, due for completion by mid-2024.
South East Melbourne Phoenix’s front and back office teams will be housed together for the first time in the new facility.
The centre also now features permanent team changerooms and recreation facilities, on-site recovery pools and treatment rooms and a fully equipped basketball-specific gymnasium on site.
SEM Phoenix CEO Tommy Greer said it was great to see the facility that was envisioned when the club was first announced finally come to fruition.
“A major part of why the Phoenix were to be based in the South East of Melbourne was this facility, and after five years of work it’s incredible to see the final product,” Greer said.
“A big part of the week for the players and staff was commuting between multiple facilities for high performance requirements, that’s a thing of the past.
NBL CEO David Stevenson was at the official opening in Wantirna South and marvelled at what he believes is the highest-standard basketball facility in the country.
“This is an incredible facility and will be massive not only for the Phoenix as a tenant club, but the kids in one of the biggest Australian basketball growth corridors, the South East of Melbourne.”
The State Basketball Centre will on Wednesday host the NBL clash between South East Melbourne Phoenix and Adelaide 36ers on its 3200-capacity show court.
