SIT Zero Fees Velodrome

The SIT Zero Fees Velodrome, previously known as the ILT Velodrome and also known as the Invercargill Velodrome, is an indoor velodrome located in Surrey Park, Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand. It is next door to the ILT Stadium Southland and is part of the same complex. It is the main home venue of Cycling Southland and it serves as a training facility for three Invercargill sporting franchises – Southland Stags, Southland Sharks and Southern Steel. The velodrome was originally opened in 2006. The venue is owned by Southland Indoor Leisure Centre Charitable Trust. Invercargill Licensing Trust previously held the naming rights. Since 2013, they have been held by the Southern Institute of Technology.

SIT Zero Fees Velodrome
September 2018: Corbin Strong and U.S. Ambassador, Scott Brown complete a circuit at SIT Zero Fees Velodrome
Former namesInvercargill Velodrome[1]
ILT Velodrome[2][3]
LocationSurrey Park Sports Centre
Glengarry
Invercargill
Southland
Coordinates46°24′25″S 168°22′52″E
OwnerSouthland Indoor Leisure Centre Charitable Trust
CapacityPermanent seating: 1,064[4]
Opened26 May 2006[5]
Tenants
Cycling Southland
Cycling New Zealand
Southern Steel
Southland Sharks
Southland Stags
Website
www.stadiumsouth.co.nz

Facilities

The SIT Zero Fees Velodrome features permanent seating for 1,064 with views available all around the fully carpeted concourse. In the middle of the cycling track is a pillar-less flat floor area of 2195 square metres comprising three full-size multi-sport courts with a Rebound Ace surface. Motorised nets surround the courts which allow for the track and courts to be utilised at the same time. There is a training facility in the centre of the velodrome where all three local sporting franchises, Southland Stags, Southern Steel and Southland Sharks are able to train.[4]

History

Construction

In 2003, a joint proposal from Cycling Southland and Stadium Southland was put together to develop a velodrome in Invercargill. Cycling enthusiasts, including Graham Sycamore, had long advocated for the establishment of a velodrome in New Zealand. Ray Harper subsequently chaired the Stadium Southland Extension Project. In 2005 construction began with German track designer, Ralph Schuermann, as the main designer, while Calder Stewart Industries were appointed as the project design and build company. The entire project was completed in 57 weeks, with 150 tonnes of track timber and equipment shipped from Germany to Dunedin via ship. The six containers were then transported by road to Invercargill from Dunedin. The project cost NZ$11 million to complete. On 26 May 2006, the velodrome was officially opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark. Sarah Ulmer subsequently became the first cyclist to officially ride the new velodrome.[1][5][4]

Cycling

Between 2006 and 2014, the velodrome served as the home of Cycling New Zealand. However it was subsequently replaced by Cambridge's Avantidrome.[6][7] The velodrome hosted the 2012 UCI Juniors Track World Championships.[8][9][10][11] It has also hosted several Oceania Track Championships[11][12][13][14][15] as well as Cycling Southland and Cycling New Zealand competitions.[16][17][18][19]

The velodrome has helped develop several leading local cyclists, including Eddie Dawkins, Natasha Hansen, Tom Scully and Alison Shanks.[20][21][22][23] Between 2018 and 2023, the velodrome served as home of the Southern Performance Hub, developing cyclists aged between 15 and 22.[6][24]

Southern Steel

Three netball courts are situated inside the velodrome.[25] During the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons, while Stadium Southland was unavailable following a roof collapse in September 2010, Southern Steel played their Invercargill home games at the velodrome.[26][27][28]

Southland Sharks

Between 2011 and 2013, the velodrome also served as the temporary home venue for Southland Sharks of New Zealand's National Basketball League.[26]

Events hosted
Date Event
11–14 November 20092010 Oceania Track Championships[2][3][13]
22–26 August 20122012 UCI Juniors Track World Championships[8][9][10][11]
21–24 November 20112012 Oceania Track Championships[14][29]
15 September 20132013 Constellation Cup[30][31]International netball test between New Zealand and Australia
19–22 November 20132014 Oceania Track Championships[15][32][33]
8–11 October 20152016 Oceania Track Championships[34][35]
16–19 October 20192020 Oceania Track Championships[10][11][36][37][38]

Naming rights sponsor
Years
Invercargill Licensing Trust[2][3]2006–2013
Southern Institute of Technology[39]2013–

See also

References
  1. "Cycling Southland History". www.cyclingsouth.org.nz. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  2. "Cycling - Oceania Track Championships, Day 1". photosport.nz. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. "Cycling - Oceania Track Championships, Day 4". photosport.nz. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. "About the Venue". www.stadiumsouth.co.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  5. "Turning the dream into reality, how the Southland velodrome changed New Zealand cycling". stuff.co.nz. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  6. "A tale of two velodromes". stuff.co.nz. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  7. "Tensions simmer within Southland cycling community". www.stuff.co.nz. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  8. "Invercargill to host UCI Juniors World Cycling Championship". www.rnz.co.nz. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  9. "Cycling: Road to Rio begins in Invercargill". www.nzherald.co.nz. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  10. "2020 Oceania Track Championships return to Invercargill". oceaniacycling.org. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  11. "Southland retains title of 'world class venue' for cycling". stuff.co.nz. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  12. "Invercargill may host consecutive champs". stuff.co.nz. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  13. "2010 Oceania Track Championships". oceaniacycling.org. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  14. "Cycling: Track riders in ominous form". www.nzherald.co.nz. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  15. "Cycling: Kiwi men in hot form at Oceania cycling champs". www.nzherald.co.nz. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  16. "South Island cyclists converge on Invercargill for Southland Track Championships". www.stuff.co.nz. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  17. "National records fall at Southland Track Cycling Championships". stuff.co.nz. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  18. "Neil Familton, the 62-year-old cyclist with a competitive edge". stuff.co.nz. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  19. "From unconscious in hospital bed to national champ in less than a week". www.stuff.co.nz. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  20. "Shanks ready for velodrome". stuff.co.nz. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  21. "Cycling: Hansen sets sights on London Olympics". www.odt.co.nz. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  22. "Southland claims the credit for cycling success". stuff.co.nz. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  23. "Invercargill velodrome holds many memories for elite cyclist". stuff.co.nz. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  24. "Blow for upcoming cyclists with four performance development hubs to close". www.stuff.co.nz. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  25. "Netball". www.stadiumsouth.co.nz. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  26. "Steel and Sharks set to use velodrome". www.rnz.co.nz. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  27. "Netball: Southern Steel to play championship games at velodrome". www.odt.co.nz. 28 October 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  28. "Steel settle back into Stadium Southland". www.netballnz.co.nz. 14 January 2014. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  29. "2012 Oceania Track Championships". oceaniacycling.org. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  30. "New Zealand's Courtney Tairi..." photoshelter.com. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  31. "2013 Netball New Zealand Annual Report" (PDF). www.silverferns.co.nz. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  32. "2014 Oceania Track Championships". oceaniacycling.org. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  33. "Record toppled". www.stuff.co.nz. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  34. "2020 Oceania Track Championships". oceaniacycling.org. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  35. "Roulston wins second gold at Oceania Champs". www.rnz.co.nz. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  36. "2020 Oceania Track Championships". oceaniacycling.org. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  37. "New Zealand and Australia claim five gold each on opening day of 2020 Oceania Track Championships". oceaniacycling.org. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  38. "Southland cyclists impress at Oceania Championships in Invercargill". stuff.co.nz. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  39. "ILT, SIT score naming rights". stuff.co.nz. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
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