Red Energy Arena Drives National Events, Boosts Bendigo Youth Sports

Bendigo will host the 2026 Code Sports NBL Blitz at Red Energy Arena from September 2-6, placing the facility at the centre of youth basketball activity in the region.

Red Energy Arena Hosts Major Events

Red Energy Arena has already staged the Foot Locker U16 National Championships from July 6-14 in 2024, when the event featured more than 1,000 games. Earlier editions of the championships drew 15,000 attendees, showing the venue’s capacity to accommodate large-scale youth competitions. The upcoming NBL Blitz continues this pattern of national-level events using the same arena.

Scholarships and Inclusion Programs Linked to Local Facilities

Sixteen young athletes from Bendigo received 2025 Sports Star scholarships through the Cyril Michelsen and Maxine Crouch Trust Fund, with support directed toward sports including cycling and netball. Bendigo’s Sports Inclusion Program has engaged Karen and Afghan former refugees in youth sports such as soccer, volleyball, cane ball and basketball, recording more than 1,300 participants since 2019. Grants from the Australian Government’s Local Sporting Champions program have assisted Bendigo youth competing in swimming, canoeing, soccer and wheelchair sports with costs for travel and equipment.

Continued Use of Established Infrastructure

These scholarships, inclusion activities and grants rely on access to existing local venues and training spaces. Red Energy Arena remains the primary indoor facility referenced for championship-level events, while the range of supported sports indicates ongoing demand for fields, courts and aquatic facilities across the city. The programs demonstrate steady investment in participant pathways that utilise current infrastructure rather than requiring new construction.

Local clubs and participants can check updates on event scheduling and grant rounds through the listed program contacts and Red Energy Arena listings to plan involvement in future cycles.