With two sell-out NBL games and record-breaking Bendigo Spirit and Junior Basketball Classic attendances, it’s fair to say the last month has been one of the biggest in Red Energy Arena’s history.

Red Energy Arena CEO David Elliot is over the moon with the venue’s busy January. Picture by Darren Howe

And CEO David Elliott says it has reminded everyone that the Bendigo Stadium is arguably the premier regional indoor sports venue in Australia.

“I’ll say we are the best, and if not, we’d have to be in the top few,” Elliott, who was appointed in October 2024, said.

“But we’re not resting on our laurels as you’re always evolving in the sports and entertainment business, and we want to continue delivering the best up-to-date experience for fans.”

RECORD CROWDS

There were plenty of those fans who strolled through the gates in the past few weeks.

A combined 7978 attended Melbourne United’s matches against the Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets.

The bumper crowd of 3978 at the Melbourne United vs Brisbane Bullets game. Picture by Darren Howe

They were the second and third highest-attended professional sports events in the stadium’s history, behind the 2019 Jeff Horn v Michael Zerafa fight.

On Friday, January 23, the Bendigo Spirit’s crowd of 2133 against the Canberra Capitals was their largest since the 2014 WNBL grand final.

And over the following three days, there were upwards of 18,000 visitations to Red Energy Arena for the annual Bendigo Junior Classic.

“The Bendigo Basketball Association does their thing to put on the tournament, and as a stadium, it’s our job to create a memorable experience for all involved.

“We sold plenty of waters across the weekend with the heat that’s for sure,” Elliott said.

“Next year is going to be the Classic’s 50th year, and it’s going to be even bigger with two new courts.”

DRAWING MORE PROFESSIONAL SPORT TO BENDIGO

Elliott said the success of the past month will only enhance the stadium’s prospects of attracting more elite sport.

Melbourne United has one year left on its current contract to play two games in Bendigo during January, when its home base, John Cain Arena, is unavailable due to the Australian Open.

However, when speaking with the Bendigo Advertiser earlier this month, United CEO Nick Truelson said the club has a strong interest in extending that deal.

Elliott said they are excited by that prospect.

Red Energy Arena full to the brim. Picture by Darren Howe

“We’d love the opportunity to host them (United) into the future,” he said.

“The two sellouts will certainly help with that, but the community programs held around the games went smoothly as well.

“It would be an incredible opportunity for us and the city to lock United in further because then we can start to invest in more permanent live sites, better production and bring in more community partners.”

POSITIVE FEEDBACK

The most important stakeholders for inking a longer-term deal, United and the NBL, were mightily impressed with the product delivered.

Elliott said the feedback he has received reinforces that the stadium is a national-level facility.

“The NBL and United were super impressed by the standard of the venue and city,” he said.

“It is in line with everywhere else they play around the country and stacks up on a national level.

Bendigo boy Dash Daniels in action for United. Picture by Darren Howe

“We have exceeded expectations, and that’s hard to do in live sport these days when there is so much on offer competing for eyeballs at any given time.

“And from the moment we returned from Christmas holidays, the phone lines didn’t stop ringing.

“People coming up from Melbourne wanted to know what to see and where to dine and stay in Bendigo.

“And then there were plenty more who made a day trip for the matches, which is the beauty of our geography that we’re only a couple of hours up the freeway from Melbourne.”

REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE

By this time next year, fans and players will be greeted by a fresh-faced Red Energy Arena.

The stadium’s redevelopment is on track to be finished by its planned completion date of December 2026.

As part of the upgrades, a secondary entry point to the venue is being added at the location where the two new courts are situated.

When walking in at the second entry, the new courts will be visible through a glass wall in a foyer-style area.

Elliott said the remainder of the building will also receive a fresh lick of paint.

The progress to the redevelopment of Red Energy Arena as of January 29, 2026. Picture by Darren Howe

Meanwhile, outside the building, better lighting is being installed for the outdoor netball courts.

Elliott said the upgrades will help them become a better multi-purpose venue.

“You don’t want to jump the gun as it’s only January, but right now we’re on track, if not slightly ahead of schedule,” Elliott said.

“The car park was handed back over before Christmas, which was scheduled for late January.

“And now people can see the structures going up on where the two new courts will be.

“We’re excited that it should be completed in time for the 2027 Classic and United games.

“It will change the whole dynamic of how the venue operates.

“We’re large-scale now, but it will allow us to be a dual-purpose venue much more often when we can run a United game and, through the new entry, other events simultaneously.

“And importantly, for anyone who’s been coming here for a long time, courts nine and 10, which will become courts 11 and 12, I can guarantee will no longer leak.”

Following another finals series for the Bendigo Spirit, the stadium’s next headline event is the arrival of the Suncorp Super Netball.

The Melbourne Vixens and Melbourne Mavericks will lock horns in a “Bound 4 Bendigo” pre-season game on Thursday, March 5.

The game will be played just over a week before the 2026 SSN season launches in Bendigo, when the Mavericks play the Giants in the season-opener on Saturday, March 14.

Credit – Nathan Spicer, Bendigo Advertiser