The Sydney Olympic Park Authority has begun plans for a A$50M ($35M) project to "put a roof on Ken Rosewall Arena and transform the tennis venue into a multi-purpose facility," according to Michael Chammas of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. With crowds at the Sydney Int'l "dwindling" and the city searching for an indoor facility to host top-flight sport and entertainment, SOPA has commissioned BVN Architects to "design a roof for the 11,000-seat Olympic tennis facility." Tennis NSW, Netball NSW and Basketball NSW all "backed the plans to put a roof on the venue," which would require partial funding from SOPA. National Basketball League side Sydney Kings and ANZ Netball Championship side NSW Swifts are "being earmarked as permanent residents." BVN Architects Practice Dir Ross Seymour said, "We looked at not just a closing roof for tennis, but actually what it would take to get it as a multi-purpose stadium." The state government has "just begun a feasibility study" on a potential A$150M ($105M) indoor facility to be built in the CBD. However, the redevelopment of Ken Rosewall Arena "might prove a cheaper alternative -- despite hope there could be room for both projects in the budget." The A$50M budget estimation to transform Ken Rosewall Arena "also includes the renovation of the changing room facilities that would allow for team sports to be played." It "also includes plans to incorporate corporate facilities on the second level platform as well as additional options at the top of the grandstand" (SMH, 1/13).
