The Bendigo Stadium capacity will be lifted to 3000 for Sunday's grand final.
Preparations for the WNBL grand final at Bendigo Stadium step up a notch today when construction begins on temporary stands to accommodate the expected sell-out crowd of 3000.
All tickets have been sold except for two corner stands seating about 160 people in total.
Most of those tickets are expected to be allocated to people on the waiting list, along with some returned tickets from the Townsville Fire’s allocation.
Spirit point guard Jane Chalmers has never seen anything like the interest in the grand final in her six years at the club.
“It has been crazy – you just look on the Bendigo Advertiser website and there’s people who are dressing up their shop windows,” the point guard said.
“A couple of years ago it’s something you wouldn’t have thought would happen but it’s certainly grown and hopefully we’ll continue to grow with or without a successful weekend.”
While tickets to the WNBL grand final are like hen’s teeth, fans who miss out on the big game can still celebrate the Bendigo Spirit’s super season at the club’s Most Valuable Player awards.
The MVP awards will coincide with the City of Greater Bendigo’s civic reception at The Foundry Hotel’s Platinum Room on Tuesday night.
The civic reception will be from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, with the MVP awards held from 6.3pm to 10.30pm.
Several items will be up for auction, plus a signed playing singlet from every member of the squad.
Tickets for the MVP awards cost $60 and are available by contacting Spirit administrator Jess Lee on 0427 997 675 or at admin@bendigospirit.com.au
Meanwhile, tickets are still available for tonight’s Gallic Club dinner at the Bendigo Jockey Club.
The dinner celebrates the Spirit’s WNBL grand final, this weekend’s Bendigo International Madison carnival and the Golden Mile Raceday at the BJC on March 16.
Bookings will be accepted up until noon today.
For tickets, phone the BJC on 5448 4209.