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Derwent Entertainment Centre

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Coordinates: 42°49′27″S 147°16′58″E / 42.82417°S 147.28278°E / -42.82417; 147.28278
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MyState Bank Arena
DEC, The Devils' Den
Map
Former namesDerwent Entertainment Centre
Address601 Brooker Highway
Glenorchy, TAS 7010
LocationCity of Glenorchy
Coordinates42°49′27″S 147°16′58″E / 42.82417°S 147.28278°E / -42.82417; 147.28278
OwnerTasmanian Government
OperatorLK Group
Capacity4,800 (NBL and netball)[3]
5,500 (fully seated)
8,500 (general admission)[4]
SurfaceConcrete
Hardwood (basketball)
Construction
Broke ground1987
Opened28 April 1989[1]
Renovated2021
ArchitectBlythe Yeung & Associates Architects in partnership with Peter Hunt Architects (1989)
Philip Lighton Architects (2021)[2]
BuilderHansen Yuncken (1989)
Vos Construction and Joinery (2021)
Tenants
Hobart Devils (NBL) (1989–1996)
Hobart Chargers (NBL1 South) (2017–present)
Tasmania JackJumpers (NBL) (2021–present)

The Derwent Entertainment Centre (DEC), known commercially since 2021 as MyState Bank Arena, is Tasmania's largest indoor arena, serving as Hobart's primary venue for large indoor functions and events.[5][3] Commissioned by the Tasmanian Government and the Glenorchy City Council, the DEC served as the home arena for the Hobart Devils in the NBL from 1989 until 1996, when the team's licence was revoked.[6][7] Subsequently, between 1997–1998 ownership was transferred entirely to the City of Glenorchy,[8][9] where it became a financial burden, incurring significant maintenance expenses for Glenorchy taxpayers while seeing limited use.[9][10][11][12][13] Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the DEC hosted concerts from international touring acts including Bob Dylan, Carole King, Kylie Minogue, James Brown, Leonard Cohen, Tina Turner, Blondie and The Beach Boys.[14][15]

In 2020, the Tasmanian Government was granted the 10th NBL licence.[16] The government purchased the DEC from the City of Glenorchy[16] and following significant redevelopment, it became the southern home venue for the Tasmania JackJumpers, commencing in the 2021–22 NBL season. Since reopening as MyState Bank Arena, the venue has consistently sold 91% of its tickets for all events, including a 100% sellout rate for sporting events.[17]

History

In the early 1980s, the City of Hobart recognised the need for a versatile indoor venue capable of hosting sports, conventions, exhibitions, and international entertainment. Despite Tasmania's small population, the island showed promise in basketball, exemplified by Launceston Casino City winning the NBL championship in 1981. The Hobart Devils, initially based at the 1,800-seat Kingborough Sports Centre, experienced relative success in the mid-1980s, solidifying the case for a larger, purpose-built arena as the franchise's influence expanded. The new venue's location was eventually chosen on reclaimed grounds in the neighbouring City of Glenorchy, created and utilised during the construction of the Bowen Bridge.

Constructed as an Australian Bicentennial project, the Derwent Entertainment Centre (DEC) was funded by the Tasmanian Government, the Glenorchy City Council, and a Federal development grant with the intention of hosting the Devils. Designed by Blythe Yeung and Associates Architects (TAS) in collaboration with Peter Hunt Architects (WA), construction was undertaken between 1987-89 by Hansen Yuncken (VIC). The Derwent Entertainment Centre was handed over to the Glenorchy City Council on 14 March 1989, becoming the largest capacity indoor venue on the island, accommodating 4,875 patrons fully seated or 6,925 general admission.[1][18] Officially opening on 28 April 1989 with a Rick Astley concert, a function area was later named the Astley Room in honour of the performance.[1][19]

Sports commentators often referred to the DEC as the "Devils' Den" during Devils home games.

The Devils set a club record for most points scored at the DEC on 11 September 1993, defeating the Townsville Suns 145–112.[20]

In June 1995, Brisbane Bullets coach Bruce Palmer lodged a formal complaint about a lack of security at the DEC following an incident where objects were thrown at him and others on the bench when the visiting team defeated the Devils 107–105. The complaint also sought reduced volume of artificial crowd noise at the venue.[21]

Throughout the 1990s, the Devils faced ongoing insolvency issues,[22] leading to the revocation of their NBL license in 1996, along with the Geelong Supercats and the Gold Coast Rollers.[23] The Devils were defeated 79–101 in their final game at the DEC against the South East Melbourne Magic on 27 September 1996.[24]

In 2002, Tasmanian Liberal Party leader Bob Cheek launched his election campaign at the DEC, opening the event with the Hunters and Collectors song "Holy Grail". The band's songwriter, Mark Seymour, expressed strong disapproval, stating the band were "disgusted by the appropriation of our much-loved anthem by a political party that we utterly despise". Cheek responded by stating that the Tasmanian Liberal Party had confirmed the venue's Australian Performing Rights Association license beforehand.[25]

The last NBL game held at the DEC occurred in December 2005 when the Adelaide 36ers faced the Melbourne Tigers in front of 2,416 fans.[26][27]

On 8 December 2009, a public talk, titled "Our Earth, who is responsible?", was held by the 14th Dalai Lama.[28] The Harlem Globetrotters performed at the venue in April 2013.[29] In 2014, the Glenorchy City Council planned spending $1.2 million on venue maintenance between 2014-15, while expecting to generating $1.4 million in revenue from the facility.[30]

On 2 February 2015, Dave Grohl warmingly gestured and commented onstage during a sold-out Foo Fighters concert, "Thank god we're playing a respectable-sized venue tonight. Let me tell you, this has been a fucking crazy tour cause we've been playing these mega-fucking stadiums everywhere every night, and we've been looking forward to coming down here... and playing a gig that seems perfectly reasonable".[31]

In 2015, the DEC hosted six performances of the award-winning musical Cats starring Delta Goodrem.[32]

In 2017 as part of his Once In A Lifetime Australian tour, Elton John and his band performed at the Derwent Entertainment Centre on two evenings to a sold-out crowd, his first Hobart shows since February 1990.[33]

In 2017 and 2018, the Hobart Chargers played their home games in the SEABL at the DEC. In October 2018, the Glenorchy City Council unanimously rejected an unsolicited offer for the DEC from the Southern Huskies consortium, led by Hobart Chargers president David Bartlett and former player Justin Hickey, deeming it inadequate for a significant public asset.[13]

In February 2019, the venue was lauded by audience members attending a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert following prolonged power failure.[34]

Sale to the Tasmanian Government

In August 2018, the Glenorchy City Council voted unanimously to either sell or lease the Derwent Entertainment Centre.[12] In June 2019, it was reported that the National Basketball League were interested in purchasing the DEC from the City of Glenorchy in order to base a new Tasmanian NBL franchise out of a refurbished stadium.[35][36] In October 2019, Larry Kestelman, then CEO of the NBL and property developer, proposed a new sporting precinct be erected at Wilkinsons Point, encompassing facilities for a new Tasmanian NBL team, retail spaces, dining establishments and an 11-story hotel.[37] The Glenorchy City Council sold the DEC to the Tasmanian Government for $8 million, and on 2 July 2020 the NBL announced Tasmania had secured the 10th NBL licence. Kestelman's LK Group obtained adjacent land at Wilkinson's Point as a condition for the deal's advancement.[16] The new state team was named the Tasmania JackJumpers, making their debut in the 2021–22 NBL season, with a newly refurbished and rebranded Derwent Entertainment Centre as the team's southern home arena in Hobart.[38]

2021 redevelopment

As part of the agreement between the NBL and the Tasmanian Government, the latter provided approximately $67-$68.5 million to upgrade the Derwent Entertainment Centre, commencing in 2021.[39][40] Designed by Philp Lighton Architects, the refurbishment was undertaken by Vos Construction and Joinery.[41] The venue was reopened by Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein on November 10, 2021,[42] with an increased capacity of 4,800 for basketball and netball events, 5,500 in fully seated arrangements, and 8,500 for general admission events.[3][43]

Naming rights

MyState Bank Arena (Derwent Entertainment Centre) during the 2021-22 NBL Finals Series

On 9 June 2021, it was announced that Tasmanian-based MyState Bank had signed a three-year deal for the naming rights of the DEC, with the venue to be known as MyState Bank Arena.[44][45][46]

Future upgrades

In January 2023, NBL CEO Larry Kestelman publicly suggested that expanding the arena's capacity would bring economic benefits, more jobs, and be cost-effective compared to the $375 million required for an AFL stadium at Macquarie Point in the Hobart City Centre. Kestelman emphasised that the arena is Australia's highest-selling venue based on capacity, demonstrating strong demand for larger crowds and events.[47] Incoming NBL CEO David Stevenson also weighed in on Kestelman's comments, noting if approved by the Tasmanian Government, the project could increase venue capacity to over 6,000 for JackJumpers games and over 10,000 for standing concerts.[48][49]

Record attendances

Ceremony

Concert

Basketball

Location and access

MyState Bank Arena is located between the River Derwent, the Brooker Highway, Tattersalls Park and the Glenorchy Art and Sculpture Park on Wilkinsons Point. The arena is accessible by car via Loyd Road from the Brooker Highway and contains over 1,000 on-site parking spaces available to visitors.[54] The venue is serviced by special Metro Tasmania buses for key NBL games, departing from the Glenorchy Interchange and the Hobart City Interchange.[55] It is a 1.8-kilometre (1.1 mi), 26 minute walk from the Glenorchy Interchange.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Derwent Entertainment Centre: About us at the Wayback Machine (archived 29 February 2016)
  2. ^ "MyState Bank Arena". philplighton.com.au. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "MyState Bank Arena". Austadiums.
  4. ^ "MyState Bank Arena - Main Arena". MyState Bank Arena. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  5. ^ "MyState Bank Arena". MyState Bank Arena.
  6. ^ "NBL to keep the Devils alive until season's end", The Australian (National, Australia), News Limited: 022, 17 June 1996, retrieved 23 September 2023
  7. ^ Young, Kane (23 September 2014). "Tasmanian drive for NBL team gaining speed". The Mercury (Hobart). Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  8. ^ Gooley, Cameron; Ham, Christopher (9 July 2018). "Glenorchy Council to consider offer to buy Derwent Entertainment Centre". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Derwent Entertainment Centre Redevelopment Submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works" (PDF). Tasmanian Government. p. 3. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  10. ^ "MyState Bank Arena Opening Day". tasexplorer.com. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  11. ^ Humphries, Alexandra (12 December 2018). "Glenorchy Council not 'perilously close to insolvency', audit finds, despite rate rise". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Glenorchy council may sweeten DEC deal by offering riverside land". REA Group. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  13. ^ a b Compton, Leon (30 October 2018). "Derwent Entertainment Centre sale knocked back, putting Huskies' NBL bid under cloud". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Derwent Entertainment Centre Concerts". Concert Archives. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Derwent Entertainment Centre Hobart Concert Setlists". setlist.fm. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  16. ^ a b c "Tasmania gets its first NBL team since 1996 under Derwent Entertainment Centre sale deal". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  17. ^ "NBL calls for boost to MyState Bank Arena's capacity". austadiums.com. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  18. ^ Rowbottom, Chris; Hayes, Jessica (26 June 2019). "Hobart's Derwent Entertainment Centre needs 'big dollars' to reach NBL standard, league boss says". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Derwent Entertainment Centre Concerts". concertarchives.org. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  20. ^ 1993 Hobart Tassie Devils vs Townsville Suns. NBL. 1 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Devils told to boost home game security". The Canberra Times. Vol. 70, no. 21, 993. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 5 July 1995. p. 21. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Devils rise from debt hell". The Canberra Times. Vol. 68, no. 21, 406. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 November 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Axed Devils plan court time for NBL.(Sport)", The Australian (National, Australia), News Limited: 016, 24 September 1996, retrieved 24 September 2023
  24. ^ "NBL 1996: Hobart Devils def. 79 - 101 by South East Melbourne Magic". GameDay. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Hunters and Collectors furious Libs used their song". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 July 2002. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Tigers finals forced out of town". The Age. 13 October 2005. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  27. ^ Smith, Adam (19 December 2013). "Net widens, with Hobart on the Adelaide 36ers radar". Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  28. ^ His Holiness The Dalai Lama in Australia at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 September 2023)
  29. ^ Nagy, Boti (20 October 2013). "The magic never ends for basketball gurus the Harlem Globetrotters". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  30. ^ Benuik, David (14 December 2014). "Derwent Entertainment Centre needs millions spent on roof". The Mercury (Hobart). Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  31. ^ Foo Fighters at Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart Tasmania 2/3/2015. YouTube: Tassie TV. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  32. ^ Waterworth, Ben (20 November 2015). "Cats: actors groomed for purrfect show at Derwent Entertainment Centre". The Mercury (Hobart). Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  33. ^ Young, Kane (30 September 2017). "Fans flock to watch Elton John at Hobart's Derwent Entertainment Centre". The Mercury (Hobart). Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  34. ^ Galea, Siobhan (18 February 2019). "Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea entertains crowd in Hobart during band's sound problems". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  35. ^ Rowbottom, Chris (18 June 2019). "Could Tasmania be about to get a new NBL team? It's now one step closer". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  36. ^ "National Basketball League eyes off Derwent Entertainment Centre". REA Group. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  37. ^ "Fender Katsalidis, Oculus propose riverside sporting precinct for Hobart". Architecture Australia. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  38. ^ Bleby, Michael (9 November 2020). "Larry Kestelman shoots basketball and property goals in Glenorchy". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  39. ^ "2020-21 Budget (Infrastructure)". Premier of Tasmania. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  40. ^ "MyState Bank Arena Redevelopment". Department of State Growth. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  41. ^ "How Tasmanian timber was used to transform 'the DEC' into a world-class sports and entertainment arena". Tasmanian Timber. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  42. ^ "Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein Opens Mystate Bank Arena". Australasian Leisure Management. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  43. ^ Eliezer, Christie (5 June 2023). "More Concert Stadiums Mean More International Tours… And A Multi-Million Dollar Windfall". themusic.com.au. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  44. ^ "NBL's Next Team Tasmania JackJumpers Confirm Arena Naming Rights". Hit Network. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  45. ^ "Naming rights deals signed for Derwent Entertainment Centre, Gresty Road". thestadiumbusiness.com. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  46. ^ "Tasmanian NBL venue renamed MyState Bank Arena". Austadiums. 11 June 2021.
  47. ^ "NBL calls for boost to MyState Bank Arena's capacity". austadiums.com. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  48. ^ "MyState Bank Arena "Needs" Expansion: Kestelman". nbl.com.au. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  49. ^ "NBL CEO David Stevenson on MyState Bank Arena Expansion". The Mercury (Hobart). 18 August 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  50. ^ Claridge, Alice (13 November 2014). "Sell-out ensues as Tasmanian Foo Fighters fans embark on ticket-buying frenzy". The Mercury (Hobart). Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  51. ^ "NBL: SF - Tasmania JackJumpers d Melbourne United". austadiums.com. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  52. ^ "NBL: SF - Tasmania JackJumpers d Melbourne United". austadiums.com. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  53. ^ "Boomers v New Zealand | Austadiums". austadiums.com.
  54. ^ "Getting here". mystatebankarena.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  55. ^ Ferguson, Michael (2 December 2021). "Metro and JackJumpers Partnership Launch". Premier of Tasmania. Retrieved 18 September 2023.

Media related to Derwent Entertainment Centre at Wikimedia Commons

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