Super Rugby club ACT Brumbies will move into a A$15M ($15.3M) high performance center at the University of Canberra "as early as next year for the beginning of what they hope will become the capital's sporting epicentre," according to Chris Dutton of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The club "will link with the ACT government and the university" to build the new multi-million dollar base for the Super Rugby franchise, with each party contributing A$5M to the facility. The center will include a new training oval, a high-tech gym, player treatment facilities, a recovery center, a theatrette for team meetings and enough space "to house multiple sporting teams and organisations." In "another boost to the resurgent Brumbies," the university will remain the club's naming-rights sponsor for at least one more year (SMH, 10/16).
FULL HOUSE: In Canberra, Dutton noted the government's A$5M contribution "is for community sport, with ACT Sport ready to move its offices from Hackett to the university campus." Several smaller sports "will follow the Brumbies," while Canberra United FC and Canberra Capitals women's basketball team "are also set to benefit from the new multi-purpose facility." The new building "has the ability to be extended in two different directions as more sports move into the facility." Brumbies CEO Andrew Fagan said, "We want the best rugby program in Australia and by doing this we can provide facilities and programs that can't be matched" (CANBERRA TIMES, 10/17).
