UniSC Arena[1] (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.
 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 | 26°43′01″S 153°04′06″E / 26.7169°S 153.0682°E |
| Owner | University of the Sunshine Coast |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1996 |
| Construction cost | A$9 million (2019 expansion) |
| Tenants | |
| Sunshine Coast Lightning (NNL) (2017–present) USC Rip City (NBL1) | |
History edit
The stadium was originally opened along with the broader University campus in 1996.[2] The court was fixed with seating for up to 320 people.[3] 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.[3] 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.[3] Two of the three bays of seating at the stadium are retractable, allowing for further floor space to be utilised where necessary.[4] The most recent upgrades to the facility resulted in new change rooms, a function room, public bathrooms and an improved sound system.[5]
References edit
- ^ "Sports facility renamed UniSC Arena". University of the Sunshine Coast. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "It took a combined effort to make our university a reality". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
- ^ a b c "USC Stadium". Austadiums.
- ^ "National-standard air-conditioned indoor sports stadium". University of the Sunshine Coast.
- ^ "Lightning buoyed by stadium upgrade". ESPN Australia/New Zealand. 27 November 2018.
External links edit
