In a momentous day for Tasmanian sport, MyState Bank Arena has been officially opened today, with a Tasmanian-based team taking to the court and returning to the National Basketball League for the first time in 26 years.
This marks a new era for the iconic venue formerly known as the Derwent Entertainment Centre, with the upgraded facilities to be the new home to the JackJumpers, along with benefitting our economy and giving Tasmania greater ability to attract and host major concerts and live performances.
The Tasmanian Government has been a strong supporter of the project, since purchasing the Stadium from the Glenorchy City Council for $8 million and then committing $56 million towards the $66 million upgrade of MyState Bank Arena as a world class entertainment and sporting facility.
Importantly, it has provided a massive boost to jobs and our economy, with approximately 120 contractors onsite each day, and 44 Tasmanian businesses involved in delivering the project.
The next stage of development on the site is the establishment of a $35 million community indoor multi-sport facility, which will provide facilities for a number of sports, along with training facilities for the Tasmania JackJumpers.
We expect construction of this new facility will commence in 2022 – creating even more job opportunities for Tasmanians, as well as boosting tourism and economic activity throughout the State.
The Tasmanian Government is committed to delivering more elite sporting content for Tasmanians to enjoy and today we see our very own Tasmanian JackJumpers take on the Brisbane Bullets in the first game of the NBL Blitz.
The NBL Blitz will see five teams based in Tasmania to play pre-season matches across the North, North-West and South of the State throughout November.
The Blitz will provide an opportunity for teams to engage in activities and coaching clinics with communities right across Tasmania. And importantly the Blitz will be free of charge for Tasmanian residents.
We also eagerly await the first official roster match at the new Mystate Bank Arena on Friday December 3 also against the Brisbane Bullets.