Bendigo scores with regional basketball competition
Published: 3 February 2026Red Energy Arena was a hive of activity over the Australia Day weekend, hosting the annual Bendigo Junior Classic Tournament.
Almost 400 junior basketball teams and close to 5,000 participants took part in the tournament, bringing thousands of families into town for the three-day event.
Millions of dollars have been forecast injected into the local economy as families and officials booked out accommodation and caravan parks and visited the city’s world-class eateries, retail and attractions.
David Elliott CEO of Red Energy Arena said the energy in Bendigo over the weekend was amazing.
'We are proud to host an event of this scale and see Bendigo buzzing throughout the Australia Day long weekend,' he said.
Red Energy Arena, central Victoria’s largest sport and entertainment complex is currently undergoing significant upgrades.
Works currently underway include:
- 2 new courts
- refurbishment of courts 9 and 10
- installation of 200 lux lighting to the 12 outdoor netball courts
- new backup generator
- solar panels
- car park and accessibility improvements, and more.
The expansion will help the venue host more community sport and attract major sport and entertainment events to the region, with works expected to be completed in late 2026.
The upgrade of Red Energy Arena is one of 3 projects in the Bendigo region funded by the Regional Sports Infrastructure Program. The Program is delivering 16 projects across regional Victoria, making our communities even better places to live, work, stay and play.
For more information, see Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.