AIS Arena

Last updated

AIS Arena
The Palace
AIS Arena 2019 (3).jpg
AIS Arena
Former namesIndoor Sports Stadium (planning/construction)
National Indoor Sports Centre (1981–95)
Address26 Leverrier Street
Bruce, Australian Capital Territory
Coordinates 35°14′52″S149°6′4″E / 35.24778°S 149.10111°E / -35.24778; 149.10111
Owner Australian Institute of Sport
Capacity 4,200
Concerts [1]
  • Reserved: 3,502
  • General admission: 4,264
  • Theater: 2,718
Construction
Broke ground1979
Opened26 January 1981
Renovated2016 & 2024
Construction cost $6.3 million
($33.5 million in 2022 dollars [2] )
Architect Philip Cox & Partners
Structural engineerBond James Laron & Murtagh
Services engineerSRG Limited
General contractor John Holland Group
Tenants
Canberra Cannons (NBL) (1981–2003)
Australian Institute of Sport (WNBL) (1981–2012)
UC Capitals (WNBL) (1984–2020; 2024–present)
AIS Canberra Darters (CBT) (2003–2007)

AIS Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Canberra, Australia, located on the grounds of the Australian Institute of Sport. It was built in 1981 and was originally named the National Indoor Sports Centre.

Contents

History

The arena was designed by Philip Cox & Partners and the main contractor was John Holland Group. Architectural features include a 1200 tonne suspended concrete panel roof supported by 12 steel masts and 36 mainstay cables. The roof has a span of 100.4 metres. The stadium is partly set into the ground to reduce its scale and to establish a visual connection between the landscape and the mast and cable structure of the roof. [3]

The arena has been home to the Canberra Cannons of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Australian Institute of Sport WNBL team of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). While the Cannons were playing at the arena it was known as "The Palace". The arena has hosted Australian Boomers and Australian Opals international basketball games, as well as the Australian Netball Diamonds. The arena has also hosted the Canberra Roller Derby League and many concerts.

In 2014, the AIS invested in a $200,000 removable floor to help it tap into new markets to increase revenue by attracting more sports, concerts, ice skating and even indoor equestrian events at AIS Arena. [4]

In 2015 and 2016, the venue received a $9.4 million upgrade, with the refurbishment involving better seating and windows. It forced the Canberra Capitals to find an alternative home venue for the end of the 2015–16 WNBL season. [4]

The arena was shut down in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its poor fire safety. It was later used as a mass vaccination clinic. [5] The arena received $15 million worth of repair work and re-opened in 2024. [6] [7]

For the 2024–25 WNBL season, the Capitals returned to the AIS Arena for the first time since the 2019–20 season. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's National Basketball League</span> Womens professional basketball league in Australia

The Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) is a professional women's basketball league in Australia composed of eight teams. The league was founded in 1981 and is the women's counterpart to the National Basketball League (NBL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzy Batkovic</span> Australian basketball player (born 1980)

Suzy Batkovic is an Australian professional basketball player and politician. Suzy played her junior basketball with the Port Hunter Basketball Club in Newcastle. She has played basketball for several European clubs including the French Valenciennes, the Spanish side Ros Casares, the Russian side UMMC Ekaterinburg, and Italian side Cras Basket. In the United States, she has played for the Seattle Storm after having been selected as a first round draft pick in 2003. She has played professional basketball domestically for the Australian Institute of Sport in 1996–1999, the Sydney Uni Flames from 1999–2001, and 2009–2010, the Townsville Fire in 2001–2002, the Canberra Capitals in 2010–2011, and the Adelaide Lightning in 2011–2013; she returned to the Fire for the 2013–14 season. She has been a member of the Australia women's national basketball team, being named to the team for the first time in 1999. She won a silver medal with the team at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Canberra Capitals</span> Basketball team in Canberra, Australia

The University of Canberra Capitals are an Australian professional women's basketball team competing in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). The team is based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. In 2014 the University of Canberra Union took control of the Capitals from Basketball ACT. The University of Canberra is the current naming rights sponsor for the Capitals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney SuperDome</span> Large multipurpose arena located in Sydney

The Sydney SuperDome is a multipurpose arena located in Sydney Olympic Park suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was completed in 1999 as part of the facilities for the 2000 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristi Harrower</span> Australian basketball player (born 1975)

Kristi Harrower is an Australian professional basketball coach and former player. She was a decorated player with the Australian Opals, winning three silver medals and one bronze medal at four Summer Olympics. She played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 1998 to 2005 for the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport in the Australian Capital Territory</span>

Sport in the Australian Capital Territory refers to the various sports played in the Australian Capital Territory. Teams represent the ACT in the national leagues of several sports, although the rugby league and rugby union teams receive far more local coverage than any of the other teams and are considered the main sports of the territory. The Australian Institute of Sport was set up in 1981, where many Olympic and other athletes are trained.

Kellie Abrams is an Australian former basketball player. She played 13 seasons for the Canberra Capitals in the Women's National Basketball League between 1997 and 2010.

Kelly Louise Wilson is an Australian professional basketball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abby Bishop</span> Australian basketball player (born 1988)

Abby Bishop is an Australian professional basketball forward/center who plays for Southside Flyers of the Australian WNBL. She has played for the Australian Institute of Sport from 2005 to 2006, the Canberra Capitals from 2006 to 2010, Dandenong Rangers from 2010 to 2011 Canberra Capitals. She is currently a member of the Adelaide Lightning (2016/2017). She is a member of the Australia women's national basketball team and won a gold medal during the 2007 Oceania World Qualifications series and a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marianna Tolo</span> Australian basketball player (born 1989)

Marianna Tolo is an Australian basketball player for the University of Canberra Capitals in Australia's Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She has also played for the CJM Bourges Basket in the LFB and Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA. She has also been a member of the Australia women's national basketball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carly Wilson</span> Australian basketball player

Carly Wilson is an Australian former basketball player. She played for several teams in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), including the Dandenong Rangers, Australian Institute of Sport, Perth Lynx and Canberra Capitals. She represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games, where the team won a gold medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Samuels</span> Australian basketball player

Casey Samuels is an Australian basketball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madeleine Garrick</span> Australian basketball player

Madeleine Claire Garrick is an Australian professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). Maddie Garrick has been representing Australia in the FIBA WOMEN'S ASIA CUP (2017) and FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup(2018-2019).

Alicia Poto is an Australian basketball player. She has played in the Women's National Basketball League for the Australian Institute of Sport and Sydney Uni Flames. After a contract with a Czech basketball team fell through, she played basketball in Siberia. She is a member of the Australia women's national basketball team and won a medal with them at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She was considered for the 2008 and 2012 national teams to compete at the Olympics but did not make the final squads selected for the Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen Veal</span> Australian basketball player

Kristen Veal is an Australian basketball player. She won three Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) championships as a member of the Canberra Capitals, and has also played for the Sydney Uni Flames and the Logan Thunder. She was drafted in the first round of the WNBA draft, and was the youngest player to ever play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She has represented Australia as a member of the Australia women's national basketball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Jackson</span> Australian basketball player (born 1981)

Lauren Elizabeth Jackson is an Australian professional basketball player. Arguably the most notable Australian women's basketball player, Jackson has had a decorated career with the Australia women's national basketball team and has had multiple stints in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) between 1997 and 2024. Between 2001 and 2012, she played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Phil Brown is an Australian basketball coach and coached the Australian Institute of Sport Women's Team 1986 to 2005 and 2009 to 2013.

The 2018–19 Canberra Capitals season was the 35th season for the franchise in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). It saw the team's eighth premiership win.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Goriss</span> Australian basketball coach

Paul Goriss is an Australian basketball coach. He is currently head coach of the University of Canberra Capitals in the WNBL and assistant coach of the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA. He is also an assistant coach of the Australian women's national basketball team.

Abby Cubillo is an Australian professional basketball player. She plays for the University of Canberra Capitals in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She is a national champion and a world champion, and the first player born and raised in the Northern Territory to play in the WNBL.

References

  1. ↑ "AIS Arena". Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  2. ↑ AU = 1850-1901: McLean, I.W. (1999), Consumer Prices and Expenditure Patterns in Australia 1850–1914 . Australian Economic History Review, 39: 1-28 (taken W6 series from Table A1, which represents the average inflation in all of Australian colonies). For later years, calculated using the pre-decimal inflation calculator provided by the Reserve Bank of Australia for each year, input: £94 8s (94.40 Australian pounds in decimal values), start year: 1901.
  3. ↑ "Bruce Stadium & National Indoor Stadium Precinct / National Athletics Stadium & National Indoor Sports & Training Centre" (PDF). Australian Institute of Architects ACT Chapter: Register of Significant Architecture. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  4. 1 2 Dutton, Chris (5 April 2015). "AIS Arena gets $10 million facelift to revive The Palace". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  5. ↑ Mannheim, Markus (12 April 2022). "Canberra's AIS Arena to reopen in 2023 after Commonwealth commits to funding upgrade". ABC News . Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  6. ↑ Nowroozi, Isaac (10 February 2024). "Federal government commits to keeping the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra following independent review". ABC News. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  7. ↑ "AIS Arena reopening date locked in. See the first photos from inside the $15m upgrade". The Canberra Times. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "UC Capitals Return to Spiritual Home at the AIS Arena - UC Capitals". UC Capitals. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.