UniSC Arena
{{short description|Multi-purpose indoor sports in Queensland, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox Stadium
| stadium_name = UniSC Arena
| nickname =
| image = File:Sunshine Coast Lightning v West Coast Fever 2017-05-12 20.42.50.jpg
| caption = 12 May 2017; Sunshine Coast Lightning v West Coast Fever in a 2017 Suncorp Super Netball Round 12 match at USC Stadium
| location = Sunshine Motorway, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556
| coordinates = {{coord|-26.7169|153.0682|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground =
| opened = 1996
| builder =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = University of the Sunshine Coast
| operator =
| surface =
| construction_cost = A$9 million (2019 expansion)
| architect =
| former_names =
| tenants = Sunshine Coast Lightning (NNL) (2017–present)
USC Rip City (NBL1)
| seating_capacity = 3,000
}}
UniSC Arena{{Cite web |date=2022-12-23 |title=Sports facility renamed UniSC Arena |url=https://www.usc.edu.au/about/unisc-news/news-archive/2022/december/sports-facility-renamed-unisc-arena |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=University of the Sunshine Coast}} (previously known as USC Stadium) is a multi-purpose indoor sports facility located on the Sippy Downs campus of the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The stadium hosts netball, basketball, volleyball and futsal events for professional athletes and students. The stadium is primarily utilised by the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Suncorp Super Netball league, who play home matches on the main court and are based at the campus.
History
The stadium was originally opened along with the broader University campus in 1996.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/it-took-a-combined-effort-to-make-our-university-a/3206099/|title=It took a combined effort to make our university a reality|work=Sunshine Coast Daily|access-date=2018-07-30|language=en}} The court was fixed with seating for up to 320 people.{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=453|title=USC Stadium|work=Austadiums}} The seating capacity was increased to 2,000 ahead of the entry of the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the new national netball league in 2017 with two new retractable grandstands at the northern and southern sides. The Lightning's success at the stadium led to further expansion in 2019, with seating added at the eastern end taking the capacity to 3,000. Two of the three bays of seating at the stadium are retractable, allowing for further floor space to be utilised where necessary.{{cite web|url=https://www.usc.edu.au/sport/usc-stadium|title=National-standard air-conditioned indoor sports stadium|work=University of the Sunshine Coast}} The most recent upgrades to the facility resulted in new change rooms, a function room, public bathrooms and an improved sound system.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com.au/netball/story/_/id/25388195/lightning-buoyed-stadium-upgrade|title=Lightning buoyed by stadium upgrade|work=ESPN Australia/New Zealand|date=27 November 2018}}
UniSC Arena was a host venue of the 2024 NBL1 National Finals.{{cite web|url=https://nbl1.com.au/article/2024-national-finals-day-1-match-ups|title=2024 National Finals Day 1 Match-Ups|work=NBL1.com.au|date=11 August 2024|access-date=11 August 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811143749/https://nbl1.com.au/article/2024-national-finals-day-1-match-ups|archive-date=11 August 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|University of the Sunshine Coast}}
- [https://www.usc.edu.au/sport/usc-stadium Official University Website]
- [https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=453 USC Stadium at Austadiums]
{{Sunshine Coast Lightning}}
{{Netball in Queensland}}
{{Suncorp Super Netball Arenas}}
Category:Netball venues in Queensland
Category:Sunshine Coast Lightning
Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in Australia
Category:Buildings and structures on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Category:University of the Sunshine Coast