AIS Arena

History

The arena was designed by Philip Cox & Partners and the main contractor was John Holland. Architectural features include a 1200 tonne suspended concrete panel roof supported by 12 steel masts and 36 mainstay cables. The roof has a span of 100.4 metres. The stadium is partly set into the ground to reduce its scale and to establish a visual connection between the landscape and the mast and cable structure of the roof.

The AIS Arena has served as the home court for the Canberra Cannons of the National Basketball League (NBL), the Canberra Capitals of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and, at times, the Australian Institute of Sport WNBL team. While the Cannons were playing at the arena it was known as "The Palace". The arena has hosted Australian Boomers and Australian Opals international basketball games, as well as the Australian Netball Diamonds. The arena has also hosted the Canberra Roller Derby League and many concerts.

When it was first constructed, the venue had a seating capacity of 4,000. A major refurbishment in 1992 increased the capacity to 4,500. In 1995 the stadium underwent a further redevelopment that expanded capacity to 5,200, introduced a new main entrance, upgraded catering and corporate entertainment facilities, and added a café and the AIS Shop. During this redevelopment the venue was officially renamed the "AIS Arena".

In 2014, the AIS invested in a $200,000 removable floor to help it tap into new markets to increase revenue by attracting more sports, concerts, ice skating and even indoor equestrian events at AIS Arena.

In 2015 and 2016, the venue received a $9.4 million upgrade, with the refurbishment involving better seating and windows. It forced the Canberra Capitals to find an alternative home venue for the end of the 2015–16 WNBL season.

The arena was shut down in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its poor fire safety. It was later used as a mass vaccination clinic. The arena received $15 million worth of repair work and re-opened in 2024.

For the 2024–25 WNBL season, the Capitals returned to the AIS Arena for the first time since the 2019–20 season. The Canberra Brave of the Australian Ice Hockey League made their temporary move to the arena for eleven games during the 2025 season before completion of their new arena. An ice surface was laid atop the existing floor at AIS Arena.

References

References

1. "AIS Arena".
2. Opening of $6.2m Indoor Stadium, The Canberra Times, 23 January 1981 [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125648570]
3. (1994). "A Constant Challenge: A History of the John Holland Group 1949 - 1986". [[John Holland Group.
4. "Bruce Stadium & National Indoor Stadium Precinct / National Athletics Stadium & National Indoor Sports & Training Centre". Australian Institute of Architects ACT Chapter: Register of Significant Architecture.
5. Canberra Times, 25 February 1983 [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116452553]
6. Canberra Times, 18 April 1992, [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122410657]
7. Cashman, Richard. Paradise of Sport: The Rise of Organised Sport in Australia.
8. (5 April 2015). "AIS Arena gets $10 million facelift to revive The Palace". [[Sydney Morning Herald]].
9. Mannheim, Markus. (12 April 2022). "Canberra's AIS Arena to reopen in 2023 after Commonwealth commits to funding upgrade". [[ABC News (Australia).
10. Nowroozi, Isaac. (10 February 2024). "Federal government commits to keeping the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra following independent review". ABC News.
11. (2 July 2024). "AIS Arena reopening date locked in. See the first photos from inside the $15m upgrade". [[Canberra Times]].
12. (2 September 2024). "UC Capitals Return to Spiritual Home at the AIS Arena - UC Capitals". UC Capitals.
13. Bovill, Monte. (27 May 2025). "Canberra Brave takes to the ice at AIS Arena as basketball court transforms into hockey rink". ABC News.