Bellerive Oval facts for kids
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| Former names | Blundstone Arena (2011-2024) |
|---|---|
| Address | 15 Derwent Street |
| Location | Bellerive, Tasmania |
| Coordinates | 42°52′38″S 147°22′25″E / 42.87722°S 147.37361°E |
| Owner | Cricket Tasmania |
| Operator | Cricket Tasmania |
| Capacity | 19,500 |
| Field size | 160 m × 124 m (525 ft × 407 ft) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1913 |
| Opened | 1914 |
| Construction cost | Unknown |
| Architect | Various |
| Tenants | |
| Australia national cricket team (International Cricket) Tasmanian Tigers (Sheffield Shield) (1977-present) Clarence Football Club (TSL/SFL) (1914-present) Hobart Hurricanes (BBL) (2011-present) Hobart Hurricanes (WBBL) (2015-present) North Melbourne Football Club (AFL) (2012-2025) Tasmania Football Club (AFL AFLW VFL & VFLW) (2026-onwards) North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos (AFLW) (2022-2024 Tasmanian Devils (VFL) (2003-2008) Tasmania Devils (NAB League) (2019-present) St Kilda Football Club (AFL) (2021) South Hobart FC (Australia Cup) (2019) |
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| Blundstone Arena | |
| Ground information | |
| End names | |
| Church Street End River End |
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| International information | |
| First Test | 16–20 December 1989: Australia v  Sri Lanka |
| Last Test | 14–16 January 2022: Australia v  England |
| First ODI | 12 January 1988: New Zealand v Sri Lanka |
| Last ODI | 11 November 2018: Australia v  South Africa |
| First T20I | 21 February 2010: Australia v  Pakistan |
| Last T20I | 18 November 2024: Australia v  West Indies |
| First WODI | 17 January 1991: Australia v New Zealand |
| Last WODI | 17 January 2025: Australia v England |
| First WT20I | 21 February 2010: Australia v New Zealand |
| Last WT20I | 30 January 2024: Australia v South Africa |
| As of 19 June 2025 Source: Cricinfo |
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Bellerive Oval, also known as Ninja Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a famous sports ground in Bellerive, Tasmania. It's a key place for both cricket and Australian rules football in Hobart. This stadium is the second largest in Tasmania, holding up to 20,000 fans. It's also the only place in Tasmania that regularly hosts big international cricket matches.
The stadium is home to the Tasmanian Tigers, which is Tasmania's state cricket team. It also hosts the Hobart Hurricanes, a team in the Big Bash League. Since 1989, Bellerive Oval has held international Test matches. It has also hosted One-Day Internationals (ODIs) since 1988.
Besides cricket, Bellerive Oval is a second home for the North Melbourne Football Club. This Australian Football League (AFL) team plays several games here each season. The stadium has been updated many times to make it better for big events and more comfortable for fans.
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History of Bellerive Oval
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Sports like football and cricket have been played in the Bellerive area since the late 1800s. The first recorded football match happened in 1884. In 1913, the land for the oval was sold to the local council. The new Bellerive recreation ground was ready for use in 1914.
The ground stayed mostly the same until the mid-1980s. Back then, it had a hump in the middle, making it hard to see players from the other side. There was a small shed for players and a hill where people could park their cars. The cricket pitch was concrete until 1956, when a grass wicket was installed.
In 1948, the Clarence Football Club wanted to join the Tasmanian Football League. This meant the ground needed upgrades to meet the league's standards. More improvements were made in the 1960s, including new clubrooms and a small grandstand.
Becoming a Major Cricket Venue
In 1977, Tasmania joined the Sheffield Shield cricket competition. Bellerive Oval was chosen to become the main cricket ground. About $2.2 million was spent to build new grandstands, training nets, and a new playing surface. The ground officially reopened in 1986.
The first international cricket match at Bellerive Oval was on January 12, 1988. It was between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The first Test match in Tasmania was played here in December 1989. It featured Australia against Sri Lanka. Soon after, a new electronic scoreboard and a Northern Stand were added.
In 2007, the Tasmanian Tigers won their first Sheffield Shield at the oval. The ground also hosted its first One-Day Cup final in 2008, which Tasmania also won.
Naming Rights and Modern Updates
In October 2011, the oval became the first major cricket ground in Australia to get a naming-rights sponsor. It was renamed Blundstone Arena after Blundstone Footwear. This name was paused during the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
In 2023, Bellerive Oval received more updates. These focused on making the stadium easier to access and more environmentally friendly. Solar panels were installed on the roofs of two stands, reducing the stadium's carbon footprint by 20%. These efforts show Cricket Tasmania's commitment to modernising venues and protecting the environment.
In October 2024, the stadium changed its name again to Ninja Stadium. This happened because SharkNinja started a four-year sponsorship deal.
Top Players at Bellerive Oval
Some famous players have achieved great things here.
- In Test cricket, Ricky Ponting scored the most runs (581). Shane Warne took the most wickets (28).
- In One-Day Internationals, Kumar Sangakkara scored the most runs (346). Wasim Akram took the most wickets (11).
Stadium Capacity
After the 6,000-seat Ricky Ponting Stand was finished in 2015, the stadium could hold 20,000 people. This includes both seated and standing areas.
Growth of Women's Sports
Bellerive Oval has become very important for women's cricket and AFL. It hosts many big matches for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) and AFLW. In 2023, the WBBL final was held here, drawing 14,500 fans. This was the largest crowd ever for a women’s match at the venue. The stadium has also invested in better training facilities for female athletes. This includes a special gym and locker room built in 2022.
Stadium Features and Facilities
In 1999, the government helped fund a $16 million upgrade for Bellerive Oval. This included new indoor training nets. A large 6,000-seat Southern Stand was also built. This stand helped block winds and included a new media centre. The new Members' Area was also part of these upgrades. It has areas for media, corporate boxes, and player facilities. The renovated stadium officially opened on January 11, 2003. A huge crowd of 16,719 watched Australia beat England in a thrilling one-day match.
To allow for day-night games, four tall light towers were installed in 2009. These lights cost $4.8 million and allow for one-day international (ODI) and Twenty20 cricket matches at night.
More upgrades were planned for 2015. The state government provided $15 million to expand the Southern Stand and Members' Stand. This increased the stadium's capacity to 19,500 for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. The new stand was named the Ricky Ponting Stand. The existing Southern Stand was named the David Boon Stand.
Exciting Events at the Oval
Besides being a home for cricket and the Clarence Football Club, Bellerive Oval has hosted other exciting events. In 2003, it was home to the Tasmanian Devils in the VFL. One match drew 6,970 fans, the biggest VFL crowd since 1986. The stadium also hosted two VFL finals matches that year.
The venue hosted the BBL 14 Final on January 27, 2025. The Hobart Hurricanes played against the Sydney Thunder. A crowd of 15,706 people watched the exciting game.
North Melbourne Football Club's Home Away From Home
North Melbourne, an Australian Football League (AFL) team, started playing some of its home games at Bellerive Oval in 2012. This was part of a three-year deal. The first game was on April 8, 2012, where North Melbourne won by a large margin.
This deal was renewed and extended several times. From 2017 to 2021, North Melbourne played three matches a season here. A new deal from 2022 meant they played four home games a year. North Melbourne will finish its partnership with the venue in 2025. They will play two home games at Bellerive Oval that season.
Record Crowds at Bellerive Oval
Before the big redevelopments, the largest crowd at Bellerive Oval was 16,719. This was for a One Day International between Australia and England on January 14, 2003. The first international match in Hobart, in 1988, had 6,180 fans.
On February 21, 2010, a Twenty20 International match between Australia and the West Indies drew 15,575 people. This was the first international day-night cricket match played at the stadium.
Since the Ricky Ponting stand was added, the record attendance is 18,149. This happened during a 2015–16 BBL match on January 10, 2016. The highest crowd for an AFL game was 17,844. This was for a match between North Melbourne and Richmond on June 3, 2016.
Getting to Bellerive Oval
Metro bus services are available to and from Bellerive Oval. However, when there are big events, it can be tricky for many people to get to the stadium. There isn't much parking nearby. This means many cars park on the surrounding streets, which can cause traffic problems for local residents.
To help with transport, a ferry service started in 2023. This ferry connects the Hobart central business district with Bellerive Oval during major events. It leaves from Brooke Street Pier.
See also
- List of international cricket centuries at Bellerive Oval
