Major work is continuing behind the scenes as Kalgoorlie-Boulder Basketball Association’s multimillion-dollar redevelopment of Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium edges closer to its completion later this year.
A loyal band of volunteers is keeping things ticking over ahead of the Goldfields Giants’ NBL1 home opener on April 13.
Upgrades to the 45-year-old stadium are being carried out at a cost of more than $10 million.
And while works remain on schedule, the challenge for local officials amid a hive of building activity is ensuring that NBL1 spectators are looked after.
“It’s not far off lock-up (stage), with the internal timber framing just about completed, the fixed-stand seating structure is completed and a lot of the pre-wiring is done,” KBBA president Rob Tagliaferri said.
“It’s still on schedule (for late October completion), but the challenge is getting the stadium up (to accommodate spectators).
“There’s no doubt we don’t have exactly the same seating capacity that we’ve had previously, but we’re doing our utmost to accommodate everyone — sponsors, supporters and everyone we can.
“We’re doing some contingency planning and based on what happens at the first (home) game, we may have to perhaps look at some extra scaffolding.
“There are some challenges there, but we’re working very hard on all those aspects because we want people to enjoy the season.”
When completed, the stadium will feature two new indoor courts to complement three existing courts, seating for more than 1000 spectators, women’s and men’s home-and-away team changerooms, a KBBA office, a bar, function room and kitchen and first aid areas.
“For the facility to be successful, we have to manage it well and that’s the challenge,” Tagliaferri said.
“We acknowledge that we’re really going to have to lift to ensure that basketball is successful in the community because we’ll have an amazing facility that will not only be great for basketball but also for other indoor sports.
“With that in mind, we’re looking at putting a really good business management plan in place.”
During a visit to Kalgoorlie-Boulder in February, Basketball WA participation manager Michael Cake said the redeveloped stadium would put the KBBA in the frame to host WNBL pre-season games.