Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre

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]

Melbourne Sports Centres - MSAC
The 50m outdoor pool, opened in 2006
Building information
Full nameMelbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC)
CityAlbert Park, Victoria, Australia
Coordinates37°50′48″S 144°57′58″E
Capacity1,800 indoor pool, 3,000 outdoor pool, 1,800 Show Court
Built1997
Opened24 July 1997
Architect(s)Peddle Thorp Architects
TenantsBasketball

Victoria Giants (NBL) (2003–2004)
Melbourne United (NBL; training) (2018–present)
Basketball Australia (2018–present)

Other Tenants

Table Tennis Victoria
Victorian Water Polo
Australian University Sport
Squash Vic
Swimming Victoria
Basketball Victoria
Diving Victoria

Melbourne Vicentre[1]
Websitewww.msac.com.au

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:

View of MSAC from Albert Park Lake

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]

References
  1. http://www.msac.com.au/tenants-partners
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-past-projects/melbourne-sport-and-aquatic-centre#news-108108
  4. http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-past-projects/melbourne-sport-and-aquatic-centre#news-108107
  5. http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-past-projects/melbourne-sport-and-aquatic-centre#news-108104
  6. http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-past-projects/melbourne-sport-and-aquatic-centre#news-108098
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 November 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. http://www.msac.com.au/facilities/indoor-pools/hydrotherapy-pool
  11. http://www.msac.com.au/facilities/outdoor-50m-pool
  12. http://www.msac.com.au/facilities/wave-pool
  13. http://www.msac.com.au/facilities/diving-boards
  14. http://www.msac.com.au/facilities/water-slide
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Melbourne United announce Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre as new home". Melbourne United. 1 August 2018.
  17. http://www.msac.com.au/about-msac
  18. The Age: "Fairytale in Bendigo" http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-fairytale-in-bendigo-as-charlene-enters-with-grace-20120310-1urgh.html

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