For the first time since re-entering the competition in 2016, the Brisbane Bullets will be able to practice, play and recover at the one facility, with the NBL club moving to the Queensland State Netball Centre (QSNC).
The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and the Brisbane Entertainment Centre has played home to the Bullets over the years, but as the club looks for security and sustainability, a three-year partnership agreement with Netball Queensland to become the new anchor tenant at the venue looks to be a smart choice.
Netball Queensland CEO, Catherine Clark, said the new state-of-the-art facility was perfect to become home to another iconic Queensland sporting team.
“Our venue has created this exciting opportunity to form a partnership with the Brisbane Bullets.
“The collaboration between our Clubs sparked by the venue opens up some pretty exciting opportunities,” she said.
Ms Clark said the partnership was a great fit, with the basketball season running counter to the netball season.
“We’ll have elite athletes on the court all year round, creating exciting opportunities to deliver new audiences to both sports.
“Fans can now feast on a 12-month calendar of high-octane elite sport,” she said.
Partnerships such as this new anchor tenancy is part of Netball Queensland’s strategy to deliver a sustainable and thriving venue.
“Venue management is a tough business.
“We knew this going in so we adopted a business approach from the outset.
“If we get it right, our netball community will realise the benefits so it is appropriate and responsible to have the QSNC utilised as much as possible, 365 days a year.
“Basketball is a summer sport while netball is a winter sport and this partnership is a symbiotic relationship that will reap rewards for Netball Queensland and our members as well as the Brisbane Bullets who will now have a bespoke facility to call home,” Ms Clark said.
Netball Queensland GM Venue Operations, Grace Hodges, said the venue was well-suited to basketball matches.
“The show court switches easily to become a basketball court as we drop in the line-markings and backboards to deliver a fantastic fan experience,” Ms Hodges said.
The venue converted to a basketball court earlier this year to welcome the Harlem Globetrotters.
“The Harlem Globetrotters was a resounding success and demonstrated clearly that the basketball experience can be delivered seamlessly,” Ms Hodges said.
Brisbane were one of ten NBL foundation teams and have won three NBL championships, being successful in the 1985 and 1987 seasons, and again in 2007
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