Basketball Ballarat nets Australian Championship
Fresh from the success of hosting the U/14 Australian Club Championships and National Coaches Conference last week, Basketball Ballarat has been rewarded with the allocation of further national level events to the City following a successful tender bid by the Association.
Basketball Ballarat and Ballarat Sports Event Centre (B.SEC) has been selected as the host for the 2020 the U/18 Australian Championships for Men and Women together with the Kevin Coombs Cup for Wheelchair Athletes.
The Championships will be held over 8 days from April 17th next year and bring to Ballarat the very best young men’s and women’s basketballers in Australia, as well as showcasing national level Wheelchair Basketball.
Representing Basketball Ballarat CEO Peter Eddy, said attracting the U18 Australian Championship and Kevin Coombes Cup was another sporting and economic coup for Ballarat and Western Victoria.
“The eight-day National Championship will attract players and spectators from across Australia. The two events will deliver over 8,500 bed nights to the city which will provide a significant boost for local businesses and accommodation providers”, Eddy said.
“On court – Ballarat will be lucky to witness the best junior basketballers in Australia – many of whom will be vying for future NBL and WNBL teams and, from that, Australian representation right through to the Olympic and Paralympic levels”.
The eyes of the Basketball World including many US Colleges will be on this event.
Mr Eddy added that “Basketball Ballarat greatly appreciates the encouragement and support it receives from Ballarat City Council and the Victorian Government who help make the staging of these national level events possible”.
Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh congratulated the team at Ballarat Basketball for their fantastic efforts in securing the 2020 Under 18 Australian Championships and Kevin Coombs Cup.
“Attracting events such as Australian Championships and Kevin Coombs Cup is an integral part of the City of Ballarat’s events and visitor strategies,” Cr McIntosh said.
“The recent development of the national standard $24 million Ballarat Sports Event Centre has positioned Ballarat and the region firmly back into the sports events market”.
“One of the most important benefits of B.SEC is that the Ballarat region is once again competitive on the national stage when it comes to attracting major events including these basketball championships.”
Operations & Events Manager at Basketball Ballarat, Mark Valentine, was extremely pleased to receive the nod from Basketball Australia for these two 2020 Championships.
“We staged the U/14 National Girls Club Championships and National Coaches Conference last week delivering just over 16,200 bed nights to the city and I believe we have again demonstrated our capacity to host these major events”.
Being awarded these two high profile Championships just seven months after this year’s Australian Championship and National Coaching Conference is a great honour.
“What this is saying to us at Ballarat Basketball, and to the Ballarat community, is that we have the volunteer base and the backing of the City to manage such important championships”. Valentine said.
CEO of Ballarat Basketball, Peter Eddy, added “Ballarat’s reputation for hosting national level events across a range of sports continues to grow and the potential for the future is limitless now that the Ballarat Sports Event Centre has been provided for the city and region to use” Mr Eddy said.
“With a facility base to match our behind the scenes work, we have the complete package for staging not just Nationals in Basketball, but a whole range of major indoor sport and community events.”
Ballarat last hosted the U/18 Nationals in 2015.
EVENTS STATS AT A GLANCE
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U/18 Nationals (Men & Women) 17/4/20 – 24/4/20 inclusive |
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TEAMS = 26 |
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ATHLETES = 312 (12 x 26) |
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TEAM OFFICIALS = 104 (4 x 26) |
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TECHNICAL OFFICALS = 50 |
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TOTAL OF 466 |
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FAMILY ESTIMATE 26t x 10pl x 2 family members = 520 |
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466 PLUS 520 BY 8 NIGHTS = 7,888 BED NIGHTS |
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Kevin Coombes Wheelchair Cup 21/4/20 – 23/4/20 inclusive |
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TEAMS = 6 |
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ATHLETES = 60 (10 x 6) |
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TEAM OFFICIALS = 24 (4 x 6) |
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TECHNICAL OFFICALS = 10 |
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TOTAL OF 94 |
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FAMILY ESTIMATE 6t x 10pl x 2 family members = 120 |
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94 PLUS 120 BY 3 NIGHTS = 642 BED NIGHTS |
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TOTAL BOTH EVENTS = 8530 BED NIGHTS |