37-720: Uniform Melbourne Vixens is an Australian professional netball team based in Melbourne , Victoria . Since 2017 they have represented Netball Victoria in Suncorp Super Netball . Between 2008 and 2016 , they played in the ANZ Championship . The team was formed in 2007 when Netball Victoria merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels . Vixens have won three premierships , in 2009 , 2014 and 2020 . Between 2008 and 2016, Vixens played in
74-653: A WNBL game between the Southside Flyers and the Sydney Flames following increased interest in the match due to the participation of Hall of Fame player Lauren Jackson . The game set a WNBL record of 7,681 spectators. Netball is played regularly at the venue. It is the home court of the Melbourne Vixens and Melbourne Mavericks in the Suncorp Super Netball competition. The Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels also played games at
111-685: A concert for Life Tour supporting their album History of Tomorrow . From 2011 to 2013 the venue hosted the Melbourne judges' audition stages of the Seven Network singer search program The X Factor . Its also been the home to the Victorian State Schools Spectacular since 2008. In November 2022, a stampede occurred outside the venue prior to a concert for American singer Steve Lacy , with poor organization by stadium management being blamed for it. The concert
148-461: A ground pass (i.e. the cheapest form of ticketing available) and the close proximity of spectators to the players, with the arena developing a reputation for being an incredibly passionate venue with a terrific atmosphere, particularly when Australians are playing on the court. Construction commenced in the late 1990s, and was completed in 2000. The arena features a cycling track, which is covered over with seating for court events. The tennis court
185-616: A larger crowd. During construction, the project was referred to as the Melbourne Park Multi-Purpose Venue . When it opened in 2000, a sponsor was immediately assigned naming rights and it became known as the Vodafone Arena . This arrangement lasted for eight years. On 12 May 2008, it was announced that its name would change to Hisense Arena in a multimillion-dollar deal that was originally supposed to last six years. Meanwhile, temporarily throughout
222-550: A positive for Netball as it allowed people to participate who might not have participated otherwise. Australia's national team toured England in 1957. This tour resulted in a number of Commonwealth countries meeting together in order to try to standardize the rules of the game. The sport's name "netball" became official in Australia in 1940. In Australia 80% of all netball played is played at netball clubs. The number of Netball Clubs around Australia has been in decline since
259-412: Is a GreenSet surface (between 2008 and 2019 the surface was Plexicushion ) and the roof is retractable , making it one of the few venues where tennis can be played during rain. The venue is able to hold a maximum spectator capacity of 11,000 for events such as music concerts where general floor seating or standing room is available. For basketball , netball and tennis the capacity is 10,500. When
296-642: Is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena located within Melbourne Park in Melbourne , Victoria , Australia. It is the second-largest venue and show court for the Australian Open , the first Grand Slam professional tennis tournament held each calendar year. The arena also hosts various other sporting and entertainment events throughout the year. The arena has sometimes been dubbed "The People's Court" during Australian Open matches, owing to its accessibility for Australian Open patrons with
333-522: Is the main home court of National Basketball League (NBL) teams Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix . Formerly, the Victoria Titans and South Dragons used it as their home, until high rental prices forced the teams to find other venues. Until this move the venue was largely devoid of sporting events outside of the two weeks of the Australian Open tournament held each January. The Dragons, founded in 2006 until they withdrew from
370-561: The 2006 Commonwealth Games the stadium was used for basketball and other sports. Its name was changed to Multi-Purpose Venue with all Vodafone-related signage covered over with black shrouds because Telstra , a competitor of Vodafone, was a major sponsor of the games. In 2004 and 2012 , the UCI Track Cycling World Championships were held at the venue. Other events were UCI World Cup events and Australian Madison Championships. On 14 and 15 June 2013,
407-507: The 2006 Commonwealth Games , the Hisense Arena reverted to being called "Multi Purpose Venue" for the duration of the sporting event. In 2014 the naming contract with the multinational Hisense was extended for a further three years. Despite the contract ending at the conclusion of 2017, Hisense Arena remained the name of the venue for several more months, effectively for free. In August 2018, Tennis Australia announced it had bought
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#1732791139430444-740: The State Netball Hockey Centre . Since 2015, Margaret Court Arena has replaced the SNHC as Vixens secondary venue. Source: Source: Since 2014 the Vixens' most valuable player of season award has been known as the Sharelle McMahon Medal. Source: Source: Source: Source: Source: You want the best, Here we are, We'll give it all right now. We're here to win, Come with us We're gonna show you how Stand up, Be proud, Shout it out loud We are
481-631: The reserve team of Melbourne Vixens. They play in the Australian Netball League . Fury are the most successful team in the ANL, winning their eighth premiership in 2019. Netball in Australia Netball is the most popular women's team participation sport in Australia. In 1985, there were 347,000 players, and in 1995, there were over 360,000 Australian netball players. Throughout most of Australia's netball history,
518-646: The 1940s. Between 1985 and 2003, only two Western Australian towns decreased the distance that Netball players had to travel in order to compete; these towns were Brookton and Pingelly . Prior to the creation of the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship in 2013, the National Netball League was the major competition in Australia. It included teams from the Australian Capital Territory , New South Wales , Queensland , Victoria , South Australia and Western Australia . After
555-903: The 2016 ANZ Championship season, Netball Australia pulled out of that competition and established Suncorp Super Netball as the country's new top league. The Netball demographic profile is a 18 to 24 year old, unmarried, Australian-born, female who is employed full-time. The average Netball player in New South Wales has played the game for 10.8 years. Most New South Wales based school-aged Netball players play at school and with friends. Girls from non-English speaking backgrounds were more likely to play for fun than their English speaking counterparts, who often played for their school or parents. Non-English speaking girls were less likely to have mothers who played netball, 18.2%, compared to 35.2% for their English speaking counterparts. Most New South Wales based adult players played netball for fun, and for
592-511: The ANZ Championship. Vixens were formed in late 2007 when Netball Victoria merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels, in order to enter a single team in the 2008 ANZ Championship. During the ANZ Championship era, Vixens won two premierships, in 2009 and 2014. In 2009 , with a team co-captained by Bianca Chatfield and Sharelle McMahon , Vixens won 12 of their 13 matches during
629-560: The All-Australia Women's Basketball Association formed in 1927. An All-Australian Tournament, later called the Australian National Championships , was first contested between states in 1928, when it was won by Victoria . During the 1930s in Australia, much of the participation in netball at universities was not organised, and players were not required to register. It was believed that this was
666-1224: The Australian Diamonds are ranked first on the INF World Rankings . Australia beat the Silver Ferns to win the World Youth Netball Championships in July 2009 in the Cook Islands . Australia also has a men's national team. It has competed in the 2009 and 2011 International Challenge Men's and Mixed Netball Tournament. 1920 1927 1928 1931 1938 1956 1960 1963 1967 1970 1971 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1981 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 John Cain Arena John Cain Arena
703-546: The Australia–New Zealand Netball Test held at the Sydney Super Dome game in 2004. Netball, at the time called "women's basketball" (distinct from the form of basketball played by women), was introduced to Australia reportedly as early as 1897, although most sources agree that it was established in that country around the start of the 20th century. Interstate competition began in 1924, with
740-625: The Finals Series and finished third overall. Four Vixens players – Mwai Kumwenda , Tegan Philip , Liz Watson and Jo Weston were named in the 2017 Team of the Year . In 2020, with a team coached again by Simone McKinnis and co-captained by Kate Moloney and Liz Watson, Vixens finished the season as both minor premiers and overall champions. In the Grand Final they defeated West Coast Fever 66–64. Following its championship win in 2020,
777-629: The Melbourne Tigers) and the Melbourne Vixens announced their intentions to move from the arena to the smaller capacity Margaret Court Arena (MCA) from 2015. However, Melbourne United abandoned their move to MCA after the 2015–16 NBL season and continue to play their games at John Cain Arena, while the Vixens will continue to split their games between John Cain and Margaret Court Arenas, with John Cain used for games expected to attract
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#1732791139430814-762: The Vixens struggled in 2021 , finishing last and claiming the wooden spoon for the first time in club history. Vixens dominated the 2022 regular season before a shock defeat in the major semi-final by the West Coast Fever forced them to reach the Grand Final by winning the preliminary final, winning against GIANTS Netball 55-54. The club was unable to beat the Fever in the Grand Final, losing 70-59 and walking away runners-up. Premierships Minor Premiers Runners Up Vixens main home venue has been John Cain Arena . Between 2008 and 2011 they also played some home games at
851-437: The Vixens, No one stands in our way, Power together Stronger in every way, As one We wear it true, Navy blue, That's what we're all about Victoria, Feel the pride. And let the fox come out Power, Power together, Power as one, Power, Power together Vixens! One team, One dream, Shout it out loud We are the Vixens, No one stands in our way, Power together Stronger in every way, As one Source: Victorian Fury are
888-582: The arena in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy before merging to form the Vixens. The Vixens also used it for home games in the ANZ Championship . The Australian Diamonds sometime play home international fixtures at the venue. The venue also hosted the 2016 , 2017 and 2018 Fast5 Netball World Series . The largest netball attendance at the arena was on 20 November 2004 when 10,300 saw the Diamonds defeat New Zealand 53 to 51. During
925-668: The competition after winning the championship in 2009, played three seasons at the arena. For the 2012–13 NBL season , the Tigers (now renamed Melbourne United ) returned to the venue, and played 7 of their 13 home games at the arena. They later shifted all home matches to the venue. The Phoenix, who made their debut in the 2019–20 NBL season , share their home with John Cain Arena and the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South . The largest basketball crowd
962-455: The first week of the tournament, at the same time as matches being played on the adjacent Rod Laver Arena . The first Australian Open match played at the venue was on 15 January 2001 and lasted less than ten minutes, when Monica Seles advanced to the second round after Brie Rippner was felled with injury in the second game of the match. The first match completed on the court was Tim Henman 's first round win over Hicham Arazi . John Cain Arena
999-489: The game has largely been a participation sport; it has not managed to become a large spectator sport . In 2005 and 2006, 56,100 Australians attended one to two netball matches, of these, 41,600 were women. 46,200 attended three to five netball matches, with 34,400 of those spectators being women. 86,400 attended six or more netball matches, with 54,800 spectators being female. Overall, 188,800 people attended netball matches, with 130,800 being female. In 2005 and 2006, netball
1036-476: The late State Premier of Victoria, who is regarded as a critical figure in keeping the Australian Open in Melbourne in the mid-1980s. The new name came into effect in December 2020. Every year, the venue hosts many matches as part of the Australian Open tennis tournament. It has usually only been used for day matches in the first 10 days of the tournament. In 2012 the venue began hosting night matches during
1073-506: The major semi-final and the grand final as they won their second premiership. Premierships Runners Up Since 2017, Vixens have represented Netball Victoria in Suncorp Super Netball. With a team coached by Simone McKinnis and captained by Kate Moloney , Vixens finished the inaugural season as minor premiers. However they subsequently lost both the major semi-final and preliminary final during
1110-576: The naming rights and had elected to call it Melbourne Arena , saying it preferred a non-commercial title "iconic with the city". The non-corporate name was to be in effect for five years, though the Victorian Government and Tennis Australia did not rule out extending the arena's name beyond that period. On 3 February 2020, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that the arena would be renamed "John Cain Arena" in honour of John Cain Jr. ,
1147-455: The physical benefits of the sport. The country has hosted several major important international netball events including: The Australian national netball team is regarded as the most successful netball team in international netball. It won the first world championships in 1963 in England, and nine of the twelve Netball World Championships. In addition to being the current world champions,
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1184-464: The regular season and finished as minor premiers. Vixens subsequently defeated Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 58–43 in the major semi-final and Adelaide Thunderbirds 54–46 in the grand final to finish as overall champions. In 2012 , with a team captained by Bianca Chatfield, and featuring Madison Browne , Julie Corletto and Geva Mentor , Vixens finished the season as minor premiers. In the major semi-final they defeated Northern Mystics 56–50. This
1221-549: The velodrome is in use the northern and southern banks of seats, which cover the turns of the velodrome, are raised to reveal the track while the floor seating is removed leaving a reduced capacity of 4,500. Following the renovation of the Margaret Court Arena as part of a A$ 363 million upgrade to Melbourne Park in time for the 2015 Australian Open, which included a retractable roof and an increase in capacity from 6,000 to 7,500, both Melbourne United (formerly
1258-478: The venue played host to an ice hockey exhibition series between teams representing the United States and Canada. The arena hosts several musical and entertainment events each year, in concert with other venues in the precinct. On 26 February 2007, Irish boy band Westlife held a concert for The Love Tour supporting their LP The Love Album . On 18 September 2018, Taiwanese vocal pop band Mayday held
1295-758: Was on 4 December 2016 during the 2016–17 NBL season when 10,300 fans saw Melbourne United defeat the New Zealand Breakers 98–74. This broke the previous basketball attendance record of 9,308 set in 2008 in a local derby game between the South Dragons and Melbourne Tigers. The venue co-hosted the 2007 FIBA Oceania Championship where the Australian national basketball team won the gold medal. John Cain Arena has also hosted several Harlem Globetrotters Exhibition Games during their tours of Australia. On 4 February 2023, John Cain Arena hosted
1332-408: Was the 10th most popular spectator sport for women with Australian rules football (1,011,300), horse racing (912,200), rugby league (542,600), motor sports (462,100), rugby union (232,400), football (212,200), harness racing (190,500), cricket (183,200) and tennis (163,500) all being more popular. The country set an attendance record for a Netball match with a record crowd of 14,339 at
1369-446: Was the first ever netball match held at Rod Laver Arena . However they lost the grand final 41–38 to Magic and finished the season as runners-up. In 2014 , with a team coached by Simone McKinnis , captained by Bianca Chatfield and also featuring Tegan Caldwell , Geva Mentor, Madison Browne and the veteran Catherine Cox , Vixens won both the minor premiership and the overall championship. Vixens defeated Queensland Firebirds in both
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