Melbourne To Target NBA, NHL Following Rod Laver Arena $545M Revamp

Plans for the second stage of a A$700M ($544.1M) revamp of Rod Laver Arena have been revealed with Sports Minister John Eren declaring he wants to "use the venue to score more major events," according to Peter Rolfe of the HERALD SUN. Rod Laver Arena could host NHL hockey and U.S. basketball with Eren "voicing the State Government’s desire to use the upgraded facilities to lure more" int'l sport to Melbourne. Eren: "We are looking at all options. We like the sound of American football, we like NBA, we like the NHL hockey." A new southern annex to Rod Laver Arena will "become the main entrance to the modernised complex under the blueprint" expected to create 1,300 jobs through work beginning next year. Redevelopment of the 27-year-old venue will "allow an increase in capacity for concerts but Australian Open tennis crowds are expected to stay the same." It comes as new figures reveal the 2014 Australian Open "provided economic benefits to Victoria" worth A$245.5M ($191M) -- up from A$239M in '12 (HERALD SUN, 6/2).