The Southern Steel will play four of their trans-Tasman league home games in Invercargill next season despite Stadium Southland's roof collapse last month, with the cycling velodrome to be upgraded to host international netball games.
Transforming the 2700-seat velodrome into an indoor sports arena had proved a logistical nightmare, but team officials wanted to succeed for the 1200-strong Southland-based membership.
"Our Steel fans are not only the biggest in terms of numbers, they are the most loyal in this whole competition so it was our number one priority to show the same level of loyalty by ensuring the games were retained for them and all the local businesses which support us," chief executive Julie Paterson said.
Stadium Southland's roof collapsed under the weight of heavy snow during a storm on September 18, prompting questions over the construction of the building.
With the stadium rebuild expected to take about 17 months, the velodrome will be used for sporting events like the trans-Tasman league.
A $140,000 portable wooden floor has been bought for the velodrome.
"We've also found a solution to increasing the lux level of the lights which will not only meet the Steel's needs in terms of live television but also benefit the likes of basketball, tennis and cycling at future events," Stadium Southland general manager Nigel Skelt said.
The Steel will swap venues with the Wellington-based Central Pulse for their February 13 clash, and will now play their first game on home turf on March 14.
Other homes games are against the defending champion Adelaide Thunderbirds (March 28), Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic (April 17) and Northern Mystics (May 1) in Invercargill and the Canterbury Tactix (April 9) and New South Wales Swifts (April 17) in Dunedin at the Edgar Centre.
