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Newcastle Entertainment Centre

Newcastle Entertainment Centre
NEC Outside.jpg
Exterior of Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Location Newcastle Showground, Brown Road, Broadmeadow, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates 32°55′15″S 151°44′10.5″E / 32.92083°S 151.736250°E / -32.92083; 151.736250Coordinates: 32°55′15″S 151°44′10.5″E / 32.92083°S 151.736250°E / -32.92083; 151.736250
Owner Venues NSW
Operator AEG Ogden
Capacity 7,528
Basketball / Netball: 4,658
Field size 54.4 m × 79.3 m (178 ft × 260 ft)
Construction
Broke ground 1991
Opened June 21, 1992 (1992-06-21)
Nick Greiner,
Premier of New South Wales
Construction cost A$12 million
(A$21.9 million in 2016 dollars)
Tenants
Newcastle Falcons (NBL) (1992-1999)
Hunter Jaegers (CBT) (1997-2008)
Hunter Pirates (NBL) (2003-2006)
Website
www.nec.net.au

Newcastle Entertainment Centre is a multi-purpose Australian arena within the Newcastle Showgrounds. It was opened in 1992 at a cost of A$12 million.

The centre's original tenant was the Newcastle Falcons NBL team who moved to the new venue in 1992 from their previous home at the Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium. After the Falcons folded at the end of the 1999 season its only tenant was the Hunter Jaegers netball team who played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. The Jaegers played in the centre from 1997 until 2008. From 2003 the NEC served as the home court for another NBL team, the Hunter Pirates (formerly the Canberra Cannons before the team was moved to Singapore to become the Singapore Slingers after the 2005-06 NBL season).

The Newcastle Showgrounds themselves also housed the early Newcastle Rebels back in 1908-1909. This rugby league franchise played two seasons in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership.

The Entertainment Centre is renowned for being one of Australia's most flexible multi-purpose stadiums, able to accommodate sports events, various performances and expos. The Newcastle Show uses the Centre for various displays and the showbag area. The stadium has also played host to some of Kostya Tszyu's early fights as an Australian-based fighter.


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