The Canberra Capitals say an AIS Arena facelift is only a "short-term solution" to the city's indoor venue crisis as the club pushes for government funding to build a brand new arena.
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It comes as the club hunts for a new WNBL coach with Kristen Veal and Chris Lucas emerging as the favourites for the role following Paul Goriss' departure to the United States.
How much funding would be required to build the arena at the university's Bruce campus remains unclear, with the government firstly committing to reopen the AIS Arena.
University of Canberra director of sport Carrie Graf says it is "absolutely critical" $11.4 million worth of upgrades at the AIS Arena are completed in time for the Capitals to open their 2022-23 campaign at the venue.
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But they will be racing the clock with work on the venue's lighting, fire safety systems, lifts, mechanical services, electrical systems and stadium seating potentially not finished until next year.
"This is a short-term solution. The funding will limp along with the AIS Arena for the next few years," Graf said.
"The city absolutely needs a purpose-built high performance sport arena. The UC Arena pitch we have presented to both local and federal government is a great one for Canberra, it provides all the things an ageing facility like the AIS Arena does and more.
"We'd like to see the governments work together to help support the next solution. We believe the UC Arena is an excellent solution for Canberra in terms of indoor facilities.
"Our arena proposal caters not only to high performance sport and women's sport, but community sport as well. It's a multicourt indoor facility that could host high performance sport - being basketball, netball, tennis - and other arena events such as live music, conferencing, and other major events outside of sport.
The funding will limp along with the AIS Arena for the next few years.
- Carrie Graf
"It provides a plethora of indoor courts for Canberra and the region. There's a lack of indoor courts across the region, and the UC proposal caters to that."
The Capitals have played all home games at the National Convention Centre since the doors to the arena were slammed shut in March 2020, days after the club secured back-to-back WNBL titles, and were staring down the barrel of a home semi-final in Tuggeranong before they withdrew from the finals this past season.
The Capitals are keen to open their season at the AIS Arena in a grand reopening, the venue which would house home finals and other marquee clashes throughout the season.
The remainder of Canberra's home games would be played at the National Convention Centre pending venue availability.
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