New Support For Spirit To Strengthen Bendigo Basketball

The Bendigo Bank Spirit is to move under the Bendigo Stadium banner in a strategy designed to bring all BendigoÕs basketball organisations under one roof. BSL Chairman Brendon Goddard today announced the new support arrangement for the Spirit, saying the structure would benefit basketball across the city and throughout regional Victoria. ÒBendigo is known for its fantastic basketball teams and achievements on the national stage, and we are pleased that our national womenÕs team can enjoy the local support we are able to provide to our other teams.Ó Mr Goddard said it made sense for the Spirit to be able to tap into the administrative support that already exists for the Bendigo Braves and Bendigo Basketball League teams with their home court at the Bendigo Stadium. ÒWith our new facilities about to come on line itÕs the perfect time for all our local and national basketball teams to be under the one roof.Ó Bendigo Bank Spirit Chairman Greg Bickley has welcomed the initiative. ÒI think this is a great strategy to pool our resources and take advantage of the longstanding expertise of the Bendigo Stadium. What this will do is let the Spirit focus on what it does best: play strong competitive womenÕs basketball on the national stage. More importantly, this will secure the pathway for kids across our region to play at the highest level.Ó The Bendigo Stadium is midway through a $15 million dollar upgrade of its West Bendigo facility, and Mr Goddard said every sporting team with its home court at Bendigo Stadium would benefit. ÒRight here in Bendigo we are going to have a state of the art arena with a 4000 seat showcourt that can hold its own on the international stage. All our basketball, netball and volleyball teams can only benefit from this standard of facility and the organisational strength we bring to underpin their competitions.Ó Article: WNBL