A new State Basketball Centre, to be constructed as an extension to the Wayville Sports Centre at the Adelaide Showground, will provide a new event space for the Royal Adelaide Show.
Funded by a $15 million investment by the State Government, the new facility will cater for community through to high-performance basketball and will see local, district, state and national league teams all training from the same venue.
The new centre will become the headquarters for the Adelaide Lightning, Basketball SA, SA Country Basketball and SA Wheelchair Basketball.
The State Basketball Centre is expected to create 64 jobs through construction, and provide four additional courts including a show court capable of hosting 1,600 people for events.
Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Corey Wingard, said the project is another big win for the state as the Marshall Liberal Government continues to position South Australia as a national and world leader in sport and recreation.
“Our State Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Plan recognised the need for an alternative ‘home’ for community basketball and the Adelaide Lightning; specifying a smaller, high-quality boutique show court would be a more appealing prospect for players, spectators and television viewers.
“The additional four courts in the State Basketball Centre will take the Wayville venue to seven courts overall, which will alleviate pressure on local suburban and country basketball courts, meaning more kids will have the opportunity to play basketball and be active.”
Basketball SA CEO Phil Sinnott said the announcement of the development marks a momentous occasion for basketball in South Australia.
“The State Basketball Centre is an important facility for grassroots, community, high-performance and elite level basketball, supporting Basketball SA in its overall facilities development and upgrade strategy,” Mr Sinnott said.
“The development will allow us to expand local and country tournaments, carnivals and high-performance programs.”
“We are also excited to have the ability to host national championships and showcase this facility to the rest of Australia.”
The Wayville location was selected for its proximity to the CBD, existing site services and infrastructure, public transport and the newly developed Adelaide Showground caravan park accommodation.
RA&HS chief executive John Rothwell said the new facility would be used by the RA&HS during the Royal Adelaide Show, as it currently does the Wayville Sports Centre.
“It will provide an exciting new indoor space for the Royal Adelaide Show which could be used for a multitude of purposes,” Mr Rothwell said.
Owned by the State Government, the Adelaide Showground is assigned under a long-term lease to the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA, who lease the Wayville Sports Centre to Basketball SA to manage the facility.
Construction of the facility is anticipated to commence early 2022.