Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
File:Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre Logo.gif | |
Building information | |
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Full name | Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) |
City | Albert Park, Victoria, Australia |
Coordinates | 37°50′48″S 144°57′58″E / 37.84667°S 144.96611°E |
Capacity | 1,800 indoor pool, 3,000 outdoor pool, 1,800 Show Court |
Built | 1997 |
Opened | 24 July 1997 |
Architect(s) | Peddle Thorp Architects |
Tenants | Basketball
Victoria Giants (NBL) (2003–2004) Other Tenants Table Tennis Victoria |
Website | www.msac.com.au |
Melbourne Sports Centres - MSAC is an international sporting venue located in Albert Park, Victoria, Australia. The centre was opened on 24 July 1997 at a construction cost of A$65 million. The cost was funded by the State Government of Victoria and the City of Port Phillip. The center has hosted international events including the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 World Aquatics Championships.[2]
The centre has several swimming pools and international standard diving facilities. There is a large multi-purpose sports hall used for sports such as badminton, basketball, table tennis and volleyball, and also squash courts and a gym.
It is one of four sporting facilities in Melbourne - the others being the State Netball and Hockey Centre (SNHC), the MSAC Institute of Training (MIT) and Lakeside Stadium - to be named under the banner of Melbourne Sports Centres, and is operated by the State Sports Centres Trust.
The centre is accessible by tram routes 12 and 96 which both pass near Southern Cross railway station and the Melbourne City Centre.
Construction
Stage 1
The first part of MSAC's construction was completed in 1997. This included the majority of the facilities currently at MSAC including the indoor pools and the sports hall.
Stage 2
In 2002, it was announced that MSAC would be expanded in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.[3] A new hydrotherapy pool, a new 50 metre outdoor pool and improved transport links were some of the facilities added in the $51 million expansion.[4] Work began on the Stage 2 project in September 2003.[5] The expansion opened in early 2006. Since then, a movable floor was installed in the 50m outdoor pool which allows the water depth to be varied.[6]
Facilities
The centre boasts numerous facilities.
Aquatics
- Indoor 50m pool[7]
- 25m lap pool[8]
- Multi-purpose pool[9]
- Hydrotherapy pool[10]
- Outdoor 50m pool[11]
- Wave pool[12]
- Diving boards[13]
- Water slide[14] dismantled as at 31 Dec 2019
Sport
- 10 indoor basketball courts
- 10 squash courts
- 12 badminton courts
- 18 table tennis tables
- 3 volleyball courts[15]
National Basketball League club Melbourne United have been based at the centre since the start of the 2018/19. The team trains in the basketball precinct, which features an 1800-seat show court, and have their club offices and facilities located in the centre.[16]
Events
MSAC regularly hosts many events including state and national championships. Among the major events MSAC has hosted are:
- 2005 Summer Deaflympics
- 2006 Commonwealth Games - squash, diving, swimming, table tennis
- 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships - diving
- 2007 and 2008 Australian Club Championships
- NBL games for Victoria Giants[17]
Charlene Wittstock, the future Princess of Monaco, won a gold medal for South Africa in the 2002 World Cup held at MSAC. She returned to the MSAC on a royal visit to Melbourne in March 2012.[18]
External links
- Melbourne Sports Centres - MSAC official website
- Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (Pool) at Austadiums
- Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (Show Court) at Austadiums
References
- ^ http://www.msac.com.au/tenants-partners
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-past-projects/melbourne-sport-and-aquatic-centre#news-108108
- ^ http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-past-projects/melbourne-sport-and-aquatic-centre#news-108107
- ^ http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-past-projects/melbourne-sport-and-aquatic-centre#news-108104
- ^ http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-past-projects/melbourne-sport-and-aquatic-centre#news-108098
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 November 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.msac.com.au/facilities/indoor-pools/hydrotherapy-pool
- ^ http://www.msac.com.au/facilities/outdoor-50m-pool
- ^ http://www.msac.com.au/facilities/wave-pool
- ^ http://www.msac.com.au/facilities/diving-boards
- ^ http://www.msac.com.au/facilities/water-slide
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Melbourne United announce Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre as new home". Melbourne United. 1 August 2018.
- ^ http://www.msac.com.au/about-msac
- ^ The Age: "Fairytale in Bendigo" http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-fairytale-in-bendigo-as-charlene-enters-with-grace-20120310-1urgh.html