Southern Huskies consortium releases first pictures of its vision for the Derwent Entertainment Centre

THE consortium aiming to shoot Tasmania back into basketball’s national competition has released the first pictures of its vision for the Derwent Entertainment Centre.

The Southern Huskies are planning a bold makeover for the Derwent Entertainment Centre. Picture: SUPPLIED

THE consortium aiming to shoot Tasmania back into basketball’s national competition has released the first pictures of its vision for the Derwent Entertainment Centre.

The Southern Huskies consortium, led by Hobart Chargers president David Bartlett and former basketballer Justin Hickey, has put in an offer to buy the DEC and wants to turn it into a world-class sport and entertainment precinct.

CONSORTIUM TO PUSH FOR DEC PURCHASE

EDITORIAL: DERWENT DEAL WORTH A SHOT

Concept drawings released on Friday show a revamped court and exterior, and initial ideas for a 140-room hotel proposed for the site.

Mr Bartlett said the integrated hotel would be a mid-range hotel, similar to a Vibe hotel.

“It will be cost effective so families can stay there,” he said. “We expect that with a hotel on site we can attract more tournaments.”

CAFE SOCIETY: HOOP DREAMS MORE THAN A FANTASY

The consortium hopes to be presenting its case before the NBL by November at the latest.

Hobart Chargers president David Bartlett, spokesperson for Southern Huskies consortium. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

The acquisition of the DEC from the Glenorchy City Council is a significant part of the consortium’s bid.

Leader of the Hydraplay consortium Justin Hickey. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Should that deal be finalised within the next month, the Southern Huskies are poised to pounce on the NBL in search of the 10th licence, Mr Bartlett said.

“We have some informal meetings coming up with the NBL and [league owner Larry] Kestelman, but our plan at this stage is we want to go on a really big recruitment drive and obviously we need to do the DEC deal, that is three to four weeks away,” Mr Bartlett said.

“We hope that gets down and, if then, we hope by the end of October, early November, we’d be presenting to the NBL.

“We are building a bid book that is going to have everything in it and what I hope is that we do set a date and we go and do a formal presentation and actually put a punctuation mark on when we want this done by, but we don’t want to scare the horses either.”

A concept picture of a revamped Derwent Entertainment Centre. Picture: SUPPLIED

The redevelopment of the DEC would include a four-panel drop-down scoreboard, NBA-style changerooms with individual warm-up courts, 1600 new premium seats, a complete food and beverage revamp and new court, backboards and 30-second shot clocks. The Southern Huskies will invest $3 million to $4 million into the DEC overhaul in the first six months should their offer for the venue be successful — all part of the plan for a new sports and entertainment precinct for the area totalling up to $90 million.

Mr Bartlett said he wanted the precinct to be used “all day, every day” for sport, dining, or entertainment.

He said more detailed plans would be developed if the consortium’s bid to buy the DEC is successful.

Glenorchy City Council has decided to try to sell the DEC and will receive objections and expressions of interest until August 3.

MORE: GREEN LIGHT FROM COUNCIL FOR DEC SALE