Ice Hockey Victory Creates Netball Crisis in Canberra
The remarkable success of transforming AIS Arena into an ice hockey venue has created an unexpected casualty - Canberra's elite netball community finds itself without a suitable home ground for the upcoming season.
While the Canberra Brave's conversion of the arena into their ice rink has been hailed as an achievement, it comes at a significant cost to netball in the capital. The ice hockey setup is scheduled to remain in place from April to August next year, covering almost the entire duration of the Super Netball season.
Giants Locked Out of Canberra Until 2027
This venue conflict has directly prevented Netball ACT from bringing the Giants netball team to Canberra for their 2026 fixtures. The Giants haven't played at the AIS Arena since 2019, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing the venue's indefinite closure the following year.
Although the arena eventually reopened, it's now effectively unavailable during the netball season due to the ice hockey commitment. The situation appears long-term, with the Brave already holding a contract for 2026 home games and an option for the 2027 season as well.
Netball ACT chief executive Sally Clark expressed her disappointment, revealing they had been working to bring the Giants back to Canberra for the first time in six years. "That's definitely impacted us for 2026," Clark said. "We couldn't get the Giants to come down to play because we didn't have access to the arena."
Venue Shortage Threatens Netball's Future in Capital
The timing couldn't be worse for netball in the region. Netball Australia called for expressions of interest for Super Netball team licences, looking to expand the competition. However, Clark confirmed that without significant financial backing and a suitable venue, Netball ACT couldn't support a team.
Canberra has demonstrated strong support for elite netball in the past, with the Australian netball team selling out AIS Arena within hours back in 2013. The current venue situation puts this growing fan engagement at risk.
Clark highlighted the sequential nature of their disappointments: "We missed out having it this year because the government was in caretaker mode at the time we were negotiating so we couldn't proceed. And then went to go around for next year and then was told we didn't have access. There was a long-term hold on the arena."
The only potential relief for netball might come if the proposed Tuggeranong ice sports facility gets built, which could free up AIS Arena for other sports. Until then, Canberra's netball fans face continued exclusion from elite-level matches in their own city.
