Bellerive Oval

File:Blundstone Arena 2022 04.jpg

File:One-day Cricket Australia vs England, Bellerive Oval, January 2011 (2).jpg

Football and cricket first started being played in the area where Bellerive Oval is now in the mid-to-late 19th century. In 1884, the first football match on record from the area was played between Carlton and Bellerive. In 1913, the piece of land located between Bellerive Beach and Church and Derwent streets was sold to the Clarence Council. One year later, the new Bellerive recreation ground was ready for use.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

The ground was largely unchanged until the mid-1980s. During this time, there was a hump in the centre of the ground, making only the top halves of players visible from the other side of the ground. There was a shed for players, located where the main pavilion now stands. There was a hill on the outer (where the hill now is) that could accommodate two rows of vehicles; the small scoreboard stood on the outer, close to where the electronic scoreboard is now, and the time clock sat about halfway up a training light tower. Until very recently,{{When|date=December 2021}} the police booth sat in the north-east corner of the oval. A concrete cricket pitch served local junior teams until the 1956/57 season, when it was replaced by a turf wicket.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 1948, when the Clarence Football Club – a tenant of the ground – applied to join the Tasmanian Football League, the ground had to upgrade to TFL standards.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

Some minor upgrades were made in the 1960s: clubrooms were built in 1961 and in 1963, a small grandstand (seating about 500) and new public address system were installed.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 1977, Tasmania gained admission into the Sheffield Shield and the TCA planned to move to a new oval, away from its headquarters at the TCA Ground on the Domain. Bellerive Oval was chosen ahead of KGV Oval and North Hobart Oval. $2.2 million was spent building new grandstands, training nets, a hill, new surface and centre wicket. The old TCA Ground scoreboard was relocated there and the centrepiece three-level members' pavilion was constructed.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

The newly refurbished ground was opened in 1986 for a TFL Statewide League roster match between Clarence and Hobart, which Clarence won in front of a crowd of 3,562. Significant damage to the newly laid turf resulted in no more football matches being scheduled for that season.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

The move was made in 1987 under TCA Chairman Denis Rogers, in time for the ground’s first international match—between Sri Lanka and New Zealand—on 12 January 1988, before a crowd of 6,500.Sri Lanka v New Zealand Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 12 January 1987/88 (2006) [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/match/65428.html Cricinfo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312074107/http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/match/65428.html |date=12 March 2007 }}

The first Test match in Tasmania was played at Bellerive from 16 to 20 December 1989, between Australia and Sri Lanka.[https://web.archive.org/web/20050410095457/http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=257 Bellerive Oval] Clarence City Council[http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/match/63519.html 2nd Test Australia v Sri Lanka ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313194430/http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/match/63519.html |date=13 March 2007 }}, 16–20 December 1989, at ESPNcricinfo (2006)[http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/ground/56407.html Bellerive Oval Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222201315/http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/ground/56407.html |date=22 February 2009 }} at ESPNcricinfo (2006) Shortly afterwards, the new electronic scoreboard and Northern Stand were erected.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 2007, the venue saw the Tasmanian Tigers win the state's first Sheffield Shield and in 2008, the ground hosted its first One-Day Cup final, also won by Tasmania.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

The oval became the first top-class cricket facility in Australia to sign a naming-rights sponsor in October 2011. A naming rights agreement with Blundstone Footwear resulted in the oval being renamed Blundstone Arena,{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/bellerive-oval-to-officially-change-its-name-as-part-of-a-deal-with-tasmanian-footwear-brand-blundstone/story-e6frf3g3-1226159911902|title=Welcome to Blundstone Arena|date=6 October 2011|access-date=6 October 2011|publisher=Fox Sports (Australia)|archive-date=29 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129010602/http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/bellerive-oval-to-officially-change-its-name-as-part-of-a-deal-with-tasmanian-footwear-brand-blundstone/story-e6frf3g3-1226159911902|url-status=live}} which was temporarily discontinued during the ground's use in the 2015 Cricket World Cup.Stubbs, Brett [http://www.themercury.com.au/entertainment/events/blundstone-gets-boot-for-cricket-world-cup-as-bellerive-oval-cracks-down-on-advertising/news-story/8c2813cfa712c5d5a32c216e79c19598 Blundstone gets boot for Cricket World Cup as Bellerive Oval cracks down on advertising]. Hobart Mercury, 8 March 2015. Accessed 7 February 2016

In 2023, Bellerive Oval saw further updates, which were particularly focused on improving accessibility and sustainability. The oval adopted several eco-friendly initiatives, including solar panels on the roofs of both the Ricky Ponting Stand and David Boon Stand, reducing its carbon footprint by 20%. These sustainability efforts were part of a broader push by Cricket Tasmania to modernise its venues and reduce environmental impact during large-scale events.{{cite web|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/bellerive-oval-to-reduce-carbon-footprint-with-solar-panels/news-story/abc12345|title=Bellerive Oval to reduce carbon footprint with solar panels|date=18 February 2023|access-date=24 October 2024|publisher=The Mercury}}

In October 2024, SharkNinja commenced a four-year naming rights deal, with the venue being renamed Ninja Stadium.[https://www.crickettas.com.au/news/4154192/cricket-tasmania-announces-ninja-as-the-new-naming-rights-partner-of-bellerive-oval Cricket Tasmania announces Ninja as the naming rights sponsor of Bellerive Oval] Cricket Tasmania 23 October 2024[https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/hobarts-blundstone-arena-to-be-renamed-ninja-stadium/ Hobart’s Blundstone Arena to be renamed Ninja Stadium] Pulse Tasmania 23 October 2024

Following the completion of the Ricky Ponting Stand in 2015, the stadium’s capacity officially reached 19,500, although temporary seating arrangements during high-demand events such as Big Bash League (BBL) finals and AFL matches have allowed attendance to occasionally exceed this number, with a record of 20,200 set during a Hobart Hurricanes semi-final match in 2023.{{cite news|title=Bellerive Oval Breaks Attendance Record for BBL Semi-Final|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-18/bellerive-oval-attendance-record-hurricanes-bbl/101931233|date=18 February 2023|publisher=ABC News}}

Bellerive Oval has played an increasing role in women’s cricket and AFL, hosting several prominent matches for both the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) and AFLW. In 2023, the oval hosted the WBBL final, attracting 14,500 spectators, the highest ever attendance for a women’s match at the venue.{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketaustralia.com.au/news/wbbl-bellerive-final-record-attendance-2023/10412345|title=WBBL Final Record Set at Bellerive Oval|date=25 November 2023|access-date=24 October 2024|publisher=Cricket Australia}} The growth of women's sport in Tasmania has been highlighted by this venue's importance, particularly with investments into better training facilities for female athletes, such as a dedicated gym and locker room area built in 2022.{{cite news|title=Bellerive Expands Facilities for Female Athletes|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/bellerive-facilities-expansion-women-sport/102399283|date=12 May 2022|publisher=The Mercury}}

Despite its continued development, Bellerive Oval has not been without controversy. Local residents have increasingly voiced concerns about the impact of larger crowds on the surrounding areas. Parking and traffic remain contentious issues, with local government proposals in 2024 to develop additional parking structures being met with opposition from environmental groups, who argue the new developments will encroach on parkland areas.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bellerive-oval-parking-development-controversy/2024/05/20|title=Controversy Over Parking and Development Near Bellerive Oval|date=20 May 2024|access-date=24 October 2024|publisher=The Guardian}}

File:Members area and view of ground.jpg

In 1999, the Federal Government announced that it would contribute $5 million to upgrade Bellerive. The TCA added $10 million, on loan from the state government, and the Clarence City Council $1 million, enabling a $16 million upgrade. The first part of this upgrade was the state-of-the-art indoor nets. The 6,000-seat Southern Stand came next, which blocked winds and views of the Derwent, and contained the new media centre. The new Members' Area was the last of the upgrades, along with new perimeter fence and entry gates. The Members' Area features press and radio media areas, corporate boxes and lunchrooms, as well as the players areas, members' bars and TCA offices. The redevelopment was officially opened on 11 January 2003, when an overcrowd of 16,719 (official capacity 16,000) witnessed a thrilling one-day match between Australia and England, the victory going to Australia.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/vb-series-2002-03-61122/australia-vs-england-7th-match-65635/full-scorecard Australia vs England Jan 11 2003] ESPNcricinfo

To allow for day-night matches to be played at the venue, four light towers were installed in 2009 for $4.8 million, enabling one-day international (ODI) and Twenty20 cricket matches to be played there.{{cite news|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/10/18/104201_cricket.html|title=Cricket lights up at Bellerive|date=19 October 2009|publisher=The Mercury|access-date=12 November 2009|archive-date=5 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005174451/http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/10/18/104201_cricket.html|url-status=live}} The installation of these lights sparked significant debate from groups both for and against the new towers.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/26/2401459.htm|title=Bellerive Oval lights debate sparks online petition|date=26 October 2008|work=ABC News|access-date=26 October 2008|archive-date=29 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029060222/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/26/2401459.htm|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/19/2717662.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720023203/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/19/2717662.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2012|title=Locals pull up stumps over lights|publisher=Australia|date=19 October 2009}}

The ground was scheduled for further redevelopment by 2015, with the state government providing $15 million to expand the Southern Stand and Members' Stand, increasing the ground's capacity to a little under 20,000 for the 2015 Cricket World Cup, along with an Ashes Test in the future, and the possibility of locking-in a long-term commitment for AFL games. AFL Tasmania is also looking at moving its offices to the ground as part of the redevelopment.{{cite news|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/11/18/186901_tasmania-news.html|title=Drive for $21m Oval upgrade|date=18 November 2010|publisher=The Mercury|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115032256/http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/11/18/186901_tasmania-news.html|archive-date=15 January 2013|df=dmy-all}} At the official launch of the renovated stadium, it was announced that the new stand would be named the Ricky Ponting Stand, and the existing Southern Stand would be named the David Boon Stand.{{cite news|first=Brett|last=Stubbs|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/sport/tasmanian-cricket-greats-ponting-and-boon-make-eternal-stand-at-blundstone-arena/story-fnj4f7g3-1227192396922|title=Tasmanian cricket greats Ponting and Boon make eternal stand at Blundstone Arena|publisher=The Mercury|date=21 January 2015|access-date=21 January 2015|archive-date=21 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121124014/http://www.themercury.com.au/sport/tasmanian-cricket-greats-ponting-and-boon-make-eternal-stand-at-blundstone-arena/story-fnj4f7g3-1227192396922|url-status=live}}

{{wide image|CG-BelleriveOval-pano1.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|A panorama of Australia v New Zealand Cricket One-day International in 2007}}

As well as being the home of domestic and international cricket and the Clarence Football Club in the now Tasmanian State League, Bellerive Oval served in 2003 as a home to the Tasmanian Devils in the VFL. The first match attracted the highest VFL roster match crowd since 1986–6,970. The venue also hosted Tasmania's two finals matches, with the elimination win against Geelong (4,800) and 10,073 for a semi-final against Port Melbourne, which was won by Port Melbourne.

In 2010, talk of Melbourne-based Australian Football League (AFL) clubs shifting home games to Bellerive Oval surfaced.[http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/home-games-in-hobart-three-victorian-clubs-are-interested-20100612-y4pg.html Home games in Hobart: three Victorian clubs are interested] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106215259/http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/home-games-in-hobart-three-victorian-clubs-are-interested-20100612-y4pg.html |date=6 November 2012 }}, The Age, Retrieved on 29 July 2010. Richmond were considered the early front-runners, but by July 2010 North Melbourne became the most likely candidate, given their willingness to move more than just two matches.DiFabrizio, Michael [http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/07/29/dont-knock-north-for-looking-at-hobart/ Don't knock North for looking at Hobart] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001220737/http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/07/29/dont-knock-north-for-looking-at-hobart/ |date=1 October 2012 }}, The Roar, Retrieved on 29 July 2010.

On 7 June 2011, North Melbourne announced a new three-year deal in partnership with transport company Spirit of Tasmania, who announced its intent to sponsor North Melbourne home games in Hobart, at Bellerive Oval. From 2012 to 2014, North Melbourne played two home games per year at the venue.[http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/07/236061_afl.html AFL sponsor revealed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007225307/http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/07/236061_afl.html |date=7 October 2012 }}, The Mercury, Retrieved on 7 June 2011. The first game was played 8 April 2012 in Round 2, in which North Melbourne defeated the fledgling Greater Western Sydney Giants by 129 points. The original three-year deal was renewed and extended for a further two years, with Hobart City Council and Spirit of Tasmania agreeing to provide sponsorship for North Melbourne to play three games per year at the venue in 2015 and 2016. A new deal, which did not include the council, was struck in 2016. The arrangement in effect from 2017 to 2021 allowed North Melbourne to continue playing three matches a season at Bellerive Oval,{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/north-melbourne-thrilled-with-new-fiveyear-deal-to-play-afl-games-in-hobart/news-story/e2741b447126c7ebb19b81410a722980|title=North Melbourne thrilled with new five-year deal to play AFL games in Hobart|work=Herald Sun|date=3 June 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2016-06-03/norths-new-tasmania-deal|title=North's new Tasmania deal announced|date=3 July 2016|work=nmfc.com.au}} A renegotiated three-year deal effective from 2022 saw North Melbourne play four home games a year.{{cite web |title=Kangaroos kicking goals in Tasmania in 2022 |url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/1017360/kangaroos-kicking-goals-in-tasmania-in-2022 |website=North Melbourne Football Club|date=16 September 2021 |access-date=11 September 2022}} North Melbourne ended the association with the venue in 2025, playing two home games at Bellerive Oval that season and transitioning two home games per season to Perth and Bunbury, Western Australia.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1255351/north-melbourne-kangaroos-to-play-two-home-games-in-wa-from-2025-27|title=Roos to play two 'home' games in WA from 2025-27|work=afl.com.au|date=13 November 2024}}

File:Bellerive Oval Hill.JPG v South Africa, 2009]]

The record attendance for Bellerive Oval before redevelopment was 16,719 for a One Day International between Australia and England on 14 January 2003.{{cite web

| title = Bellerive Oval Crowds

| publisher = Australian Stadiums

| url = http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums_crowds.php?id=13

| access-date = 22 January 2008

| archive-date = 23 July 2008

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080723094443/http://austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums_crowds.php?id=13

| url-status = live

}} The first international match at the venue was a One Day International between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on 12 January 1988 and attracted a then record crowd for an international in Hobart of 6,180.{{cite web

| title = NEW ZEALAND v SRI LANKA 1987–88

| publisher = Cricinfo

| url = http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153484.html?from=login

| access-date = 22 January 2008

| archive-date = 19 January 2013

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130119190700/http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153484.html?from=login

| url-status = live

}}

On 21 February 2010, a Twenty20 International match between Australia and the West Indies attracted a crowd of 15,575. This was the first international day-night cricket match played at Bellerive Oval.

The record attendance at Bellerive Oval since the addition of the Ricky Ponting stand is 18,149 during a 2015–16 BBL match between Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers on 10 January 2016. The crowd of 17,844 for an AFL game in 2016 between {{AFL NM}} and {{AFL Ric}} on 3 June 2016 is the highest crowd ever at Bellerive Oval for an AFL match.[https://twitter.com/HurricanesBBL/status/682869864684326912 WOW!!! The BIGGEST EVER crowd for a cricket match @BlundstoneArena] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209192007/https://twitter.com/HurricanesBBL/status/682869864684326912 |date=9 February 2016 }} twitter.com/HurricanesBBL. Retrieved on 1 January 2016

^{Last updated on 21 December 2021. Source:}{{Cite web|title=Blundstone Arena Crowds (Bellerive Oval) {{!}} Austadiums|url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/blundstone-arena/crowds|access-date=2021-12-20|website=www.austadiums.com}}

Metro bus services are available to and from Bellerive Oval. Development into an international venue has far outgrown the capacity of local infrastructure to adequately handle the large influxes of patrons attempting to access the venue. In particular, there is little provision for spectator parking. Thus, large numbers of vehicles are parked in the surrounding streets when such events are held, resulting in access issues for local residents and need for traffic-control measures.

In 2023, a ferry service from Brooke Street Pier connecting the Hobart central business district with Bellerive Oval during major events was introduced.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-18/ferry-service-bellerive-major-events-success/101931239|title=Ferry Services Alleviate Bellerive Oval Traffic Issues|date=18 February 2023|access-date=24 October 2024|publisher=ABC News}}

In an attempt to address parking and access issues, development of the oval has encroached upon adjacent properties and in particular the Bellerive Rotary Park situated between the oval and the beach.{{cite web|url=http://prelive.themercury.com.au/article/2012/06/04/334121_tasmania-news.html|title=The Mercury|work=themercury.com.au|access-date=16 May 2014|archive-date=17 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517115502/http://prelive.themercury.com.au/article/2012/06/04/334121_tasmania-news.html|url-status=live}} This park is on land owned by the Clarence Council as is the adjacent oval. As the oval is an exclusive, fenced-off area and the park is an inclusive area open to all residents, many residents reject the encroachment.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

• List of international cricket centuries at Bellerive Oval

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Bellerive Oval}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{Austadiums|13}}

{{Australia national cricket team}}

{{Hobart Hurricanes}}

{{Big Bash League Cricket grounds}}

{{Test Cricket Grounds AUS}}

{{International cricket centuries by ground}}

{{International cricket five-wicket hauls by ground}}

{{Australian Football League}}

{{AFL grounds}}

{{AFL Women's venues}}

{{North Melbourne Football Club}}

{{Tasmanian Football League teamlist}}

{{Hobart landmarks}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Australian Football League grounds

Category:City of Clarence

Category:Landmarks in Hobart

Category:Sports venues completed in 1914

Category:Sports venues in Hobart

Category:Test cricket grounds in Australia

Category:Women's Big Bash League

Category:1914 establishments in Australia

Category:Tasmania cricket team

Category:Australian rules football in Tasmania