Kingborough Sports Centre
Encyclopedia
Kingborough Sports Centre is a multi-purpose sports venue located in the southern Hobart (Tasmania
) suburb of Kingston
. The centre was opened on 19 May 1979 and since opening has become a vital part of the Kingborough Community.
After the centre was opened it became the area's main venue for indoor sports such as volleyball
, basketball
and netball
. In 1983 Australia's National Basketball League
expanded in its 5th season to include the newly formed Hobart Devils
who chose the Kingborough Sports Centre as their home stadium. The Devils regularly played in front of packed houses at Kingborough despite the teams lack of success and a feature of their games was the court, which like any community based sports centre not only had the outline of the basketball court
but players and officials had to contend with the markings from sports such as netball, volleyball and badminton
as well.
The Devils remained at the 2,000 capacity Kingborough until the end of the 1988 NBL season, during which time it became increasingly obvious that a larger venue would be needed to cater for the increased crowds the NBL was seeing at the time. The problem for the Devils was solved when the 5,400 seat Derwent Entertainment Centre
opened in 1989. The Hobart Devils, after a six year run at the KSC moved 16km north into the heart of Hobart and the centre reverted back to what it originally was, a great community based sports centre catering to the community's needs.
Today the centre caters for all age groups and has the widest range of activities available under one roof than any other such complex in Tasmania.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
) suburb of Kingston
Kingston, Tasmania
Kingston is a township and region on the outskirts of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Nestled 15 km south of the city between and around several hills, Kingston is the council seat of its wider municipality, the Kingborough Council, and today serves as the gateway between Hobart and the...
. The centre was opened on 19 May 1979 and since opening has become a vital part of the Kingborough Community.
After the centre was opened it became the area's main venue for indoor sports such as volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
. In 1983 Australia's National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
expanded in its 5th season to include the newly formed Hobart Devils
Hobart Devils
The Hobart Devils were an Australian basketball team that played in Hobart, Tasmania, in the National Basketball League. The team was the only representative from the state of Tasmania for the majority of its tenure, but was one of three teams that had their NBL licenses revoked by the league...
who chose the Kingborough Sports Centre as their home stadium. The Devils regularly played in front of packed houses at Kingborough despite the teams lack of success and a feature of their games was the court, which like any community based sports centre not only had the outline of the basketball court
Basketball court
In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor with tiles at either end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood, often maple, and highly polished...
but players and officials had to contend with the markings from sports such as netball, volleyball and badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
as well.
The Devils remained at the 2,000 capacity Kingborough until the end of the 1988 NBL season, during which time it became increasingly obvious that a larger venue would be needed to cater for the increased crowds the NBL was seeing at the time. The problem for the Devils was solved when the 5,400 seat Derwent Entertainment Centre
Derwent Entertainment Centre
Derwent Entertainment Centre is a multi-purpose arena and is the primary venue, in Hobart, for large indoor functions/events. It was constructed in 1989 and is situated in between the waterfront of the River Derwent, the Brooker Highway and Tattersalls Park.Between 1989 and 1996, it was the home of...
opened in 1989. The Hobart Devils, after a six year run at the KSC moved 16km north into the heart of Hobart and the centre reverted back to what it originally was, a great community based sports centre catering to the community's needs.
Today the centre caters for all age groups and has the widest range of activities available under one roof than any other such complex in Tasmania.