Geelong bouncing as hoops centre circles new open date

Grovedale's Hoop City is set to open before the next school holidays after a series of dealys. Co-owner and Boomers player Chris Goulding (centre) is pictured with Geelong Supercats players Isaac Turner and Sara Blicavs. Photo: PETER MARSHALL

A NEW floor for Grovedale’s Hoop City basketball complex is on route as the facility plans its belated launch within the next month.

The centre has targeted the Easter school holidays, which start April 9, for its opening, when it will provide world-class training and playing facilities for Geelong’s state league and junior hoopers.

Hoop City had initially planned to be up and running by the end of last year, but delays to construction during the pandemic pushed back plans before a burst water main destroyed its floor and made the court facility unusable.

But the facility’s Jacqui Neill said excitement was building again among Geelong’s basketball community with the opening day in sight.

“We are taking the time to meticulously ensure we deliver nothing but the absolute best facility to the Geelong area therefore we are committing to an updated opening for the Easter school holidays,” she said.

“As devastated as we are to have it pushed back so far, we are grateful this happened during construction and not when we were operational, so we are able to have everything perfect for our much-anticipated opening with the community.”

The centre’s new floor is on a ship on its way to Geelong, where Hoop City will welcome the local basketball community to a new, advanced training base.

Hoop City will include state-of-the-art facilities including a fully equipped gym and artificial intelligence technology to help track shooting motions and arcs and help local ballers up their game.

It will also have a full-sized FIBA court, a 3×3 court, shooting and dribbling-agility bays and a function room for events to cater for casual and high-level players.

Hoop City Geelong announced a three-year naming rights deal with state league basketball club Geelong United; including its senior teams, Supercats and Stingrays, and its junior pathways program.

Hoop City already has a successful facility at Cheltenham, Melbourne, and is co-owned by current Melbourne United superstar and Olympic bronze medallist Chris Goulding, who gives the final tick of approval for facilities before they become available for public use.