Cricket NSW to build new Centre of Excellence at Homebush

Cricket NSW will build a new state of the art Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park, moving the home of cricket in NSW from the SCG out west.

The new facility will be home to the Sydney Thunder and the Western Hub for the NSW Blues and Breakers. It will cost up to $50 million.

The complex will also house training and playing facilities for thousands of club and community cricketers across Sydney.

It will include full size and junior size playing ovals, more than 50 outdoor training nets, a community indoor centre and high performance training facilities including gym and hot and cold recovery.

Administration facilities to support local competitions, game development and Cricket NSW pathways will also be developed.

The new Western Hub has been made possible thanks to a $30 million contribution from the Sydney Olympic Park Authority with the support of the NSW Government.

It is the centrepiece of a long term solution for Cricket NSW to replace its existing offices and indoor centre at the SCG, which will make way for the Allianz Stadium redevelopment.

Detailed design work and approvals will start now with construction expected to be complete by mid 2022. In the meantime, Cricket NSW will move to temporary headquarters at Sydney Olympic Park from the end of this season.

Cricket NSW Chief Executive Andrew Jones thanked the NSW Government for its strong support of cricket.

“This is a landmark day for NSW cricket. NSW produces the best cricketers, male and female, in Australia and they will now have the best facility in Australia to train," Mr Jones said.

“This facility will also accommodate indoor training and outdoor playing for men, women, boys and girls from all over Sydney.” Mr Jones said.

“The growth of cricket and the Allianz Stadium redevelopment make this facility urgently needed.

“During the past decade the number of elite teams under the Cricket NSW umbrella has grown from two to six with the advent of the men’s and women’s Big Bash.

“With Cricket NSW also leading the professionalisation of women’s cricket two seasons ago, we have simply outgrown what we currently have at Moore Park.

“The new facility will allow us to have a modern high-performance centre with a cricket field and plenty of turf nets to cater for the increased number of elite and developing players now coming through our pathway system.

“With our extra training facilities at Blacktown and a continuing presence at the Sydney Cricket Ground we will now be able to better cater for all our athletes right across Sydney.

“We are very grateful to Premier Berejiklian, Minister Ayres and the NSW Government for their commitment to making NSW No 1 in all areas, including sport.”

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer Kevin Roberts commended the NSW Government for its support of cricket.

“The government’s investment of $30m towards a Western Hub will be a game changer for our sport in NSW," Mr Roberts said.

“I know first-hand the importance of facilities like these to support young aspiring cricketers, particularly in one of the fastest growing areas of Australia.

“CA is pleased to join Cricket NSW and the NSW Government in investing in this project and we can’t wait for it to get started.”

NSW Blues captain Peter Nevill said the players were delighted with the development:

“Quality facilities give every cricketer from junior to Australian level the ability to be their best.

The SCG can no longer accommodate all the Blues’ training needs so we are thrilled with this additional facility. It will be like Victoria’s new Junction Oval complex, only better.”

NSW Breakers captain Alyssa Healy was equally enthusiastic:

“Cricket NSW has led the professionalisation of cricket for women and our facilities have struggled to keep pace.

“The Wilson Park Centre of Excellence will change this by delivering a world class facility for all NSW cricketers.

“This will ensure NSW continues to produce the best players in Australia for years to come.”

Article by Cricket NSW