Geelong United Basketball is confident new infrastructure plans will ‘materialise’ soon
Geelong United Basketball is anticipating high level talks regarding new infrastructure will “materialise” soon amid a push for a 5000-seater showcourt in the region.
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Geelong United Basketball is confident recent negotiations with all three levels of government will result in improved stadiums and new infrastructure in the near future.
In its recent annual report, United chairman Andy Mathers said there had been “significant progress” with these discussions as the association saw a large jump in participation numbers in 2023.
“We are optimistic that these plans will materialise in the near future, bolstering our capabilities and enhancing the overall experience for our members and participants,” Mathers said of the recent discussions.
In an exclusive interview with this publication, Geelong United chief executive Mark Neeld said it was fully supportive of City of Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan’s letter to the State Government in December, calling on funding earmarked for a pool at Armstrong Creek be used for an indoor basketball centre.
The State Government announced two indoor sports stadiums for Waurn Ponds and Armstrong Creek in preparation for the Commonwealth Games, which it remains committed to.
“We are fully aligned and fully supportive of the city’s stance there,” Neeld said.
“The pool should be in stage two ... the facility at Waurn Ponds should contain a showcourt with up to 5000 seats.
“We’re right alongside them. We would be expecting, soon, so we’re talking weeks, hopefully, there might be some announcement about what those stadiums will look like.
“We’re still very much expecting stadiums to be built at Armstrong Creek and also Waurn Ponds.”
He said a 5000-seater venue would help attract elite level indoor sport to Geelong.
“If there was a showcourt of 5000 seats it certainly gives our sport and other sports the opportunity to negotiate with confidence bringing elite level sporting teams to Geelong,” he said.
“Having a stadium that can seat up to 5000 people, that is certainly going to assist us in our ambition and vision for indoor sports in Geelong.
“We don’t have a sizeable indoor sport stadium like a lot of the other regional centres have.”
A spokeswoman for the government said it was “ready to deliver new and upgraded sporting venues” in Geelong.
“For Geelong, that means refurbishing the facilities at four popular sporting venues in the region,” the spokeswoman said.
“We have been working closely with local community stakeholders to plan out the next steps for this upgrade and will have more to announce in the coming weeks.”
Meanwhile, Mathers said the “evolving landscape of sports and shifting consumer preferences” would provide challenges in the future for Geelong United.
However, United had seen a “substantial increase” in participation across all age groups over the past 12 months with almost 60 pathways teams in various age groups and more than 10,000 players.
“We’ve now expanded further in to both all abilities and wheelchair competitions, broadening the reach of the game on a competitive level,” a United spokesman said.
Meanwhile, a successful tenderer for the management of Geelong Arena, for a period of up to five years, will be announced “early this year”, acting executive director City Life Amanda Locke said.
Geelong United, Belgravia Health and Leisure Group and Clublinks Management Pty Ltd have all bid for the rights.
This publication understands the item was intended to be on the council’s agenda for the February and then March meetings, with the club now anticipating April.
The process to start calling for suggestions for the long term use of the arena site will begin in the middle of the year.
Originally published as Geelong United Basketball is confident new infrastructure plans will ‘materialise’ soon
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