Operator Glenorchy City Council Opened 1989 Owner Glenorchy City Council | Broke ground 1989 Phone +61 3 6251 3170 | |
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Location Brooker Highway, Glenorchy, Hobart, Tasmania 7010 Capacity 5,400 (seated)
7,500 (general admission) Surface Concrete
Hardwood (basketball) Address 601 Brooker Hwy, Glenorchy TAS 7010, Australia Similar Royal Hobart Showground, Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Luxbet Park, Wrest Point Hotel Casino, Theatre Royal - Hobart Profiles | ||
Derwent Entertainment Centre (DEC) is the largest indoor arena in Tasmania and the multi-purpose arena is the primary venue in Hobart for large indoor functions/events. It was constructed in 1989 and is situated in between the waterfront of the River Derwent, the Brooker Highway and Tattersalls Park. The DEC can hold up to 7,500 people for events such as concerts with a seating capacity of 5,400.
Between 1989 and 1996, it was the home of Tasmania's former NBL team, the Hobart Devils, who moved to the larger and far more modern DEC from their previous home court, the Kingborough Sports Centre which only held 1,800. During Devils home games the DEC was often referred to as the "Devils Den" by local TV commentators. The last NBL game played at the DEC was in December 2005 when the Adelaide 36ers played the Melbourne Tigers in front of 2,416 fans.
Today the DEC still occasionally plays host to international basketball with 4,000 fans attending a game on 17 July 2006 to see the Australian Boomers defeat the New Zealand Tall Blacks 79-78. With talk of expansion in the NBL during 2014 and a possible team based in Hobart in future years, the DEC is said to be the leading candidate for any new teams home venue.
Being the largest capacity indoor venue in Tasmania, it often attracts the "big" name artists that tour the state.
It is also the home of the Music for the Masses, Australia's largest quiz night.
Other uses include clearance sales and Expos.
On 8 December 2009, a public talk, titled "Our Earth, who is responsible?", was held by the Dalai Lama.