View source for Bellerive Oval

{{Short description|Sports stadium}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Bellerive Oval<br/><small>Ninja Stadium</small>
| nickname = 
| logo_image = 
| image = Blundstonearena240422.jpg
| caption = [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] vs [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] [[Australian Football League|AFL]] match, 2022
| former_names = Blundstone Arena (2011-2024)
| address = 15 Derwent Street
| city = 
| location = [[Bellerive, Tasmania]]
| coordinates = {{coord|42|52|38|S|147|22|25|E|display=it}}
| broke_ground = 1913
| opened = 1914
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner = [[Cricket Tasmania]]
| operator = Cricket Tasmania
| seating_capacity = 19,500<ref name="ninjastadium-about">{{cite web|url=https://www.ninjastadium.com.au/visit/about-stadium|title=Ninja Stadium - About The Stadium|access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref>
| dimensions = {{cvt|160 x 124|m}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Atkinson |first1=Cody |last2=Lawson |first2=Sean |title=From the SCG to Kardinia Park — do ground sizes contribute to the end result in AFL games? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-16/cody-and-sean-afl-analysis-how-much-do-ground-sizes-matter/101154950 |website=ABC News |date=15 June 2022 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref>
| surface = Grass
| construction_cost = Unknown
| architect = Various
| tenants = [[Australia national cricket team]]  ([[Cricket|International Cricket]])  <br />[[Tasmanian Tigers]] ([[Sheffield Shield]]/[[One-Day Cup (Australia)|One-Day Cup]]) (1977-present)<br />[[Clarence Football Club]] ([[Tasmanian Football League|TSL]]/[[Southern Football League (Tasmania)|SFL]]) (1914-present)<br />[[Hobart Hurricanes]] ([[Big Bash League|BBL]]) (2011-present)<br />[[Hobart Hurricanes Women|Hobart Hurricanes]] ([[Women's Big Bash League|WBBL]]) (2015-present)<br />[[North Melbourne Football Club]] ([[Australian Football League|AFL]]) (2012-2025)<br />[[Tasmania Football Club]] ([[Australian Football League|AFL]] [[AFL Women's|AFLW]] [[Victorian Football League|VFL]] & [[VFL Women's|VFLW]]) (2026-present)<br />[[North Melbourne Football Club (AFL Women's)|North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos]] ([[AFL Women's|AFLW]]) (2022-2024<br />[[Tasmanian Devils (2001–2008)|Tasmanian Devils]] ([[Victorian Football League|VFL]]) (2003-2008)<br />[[Tasmania Devils (NAB League)]] (2019-present)<br />[[St Kilda Football Club]] ([[Australian Football League|AFL]]) (2021)<br />[[Richmond Football Club]] ([[Australian Football League|AFL]]) (2026-present)<br />[[South Hobart FC]] ([[Australia Cup]]) (2019)
| website = {{URL|www.belleriveoval.com.au/}}
| embedded = {{Infobox cricket ground
| embed            = yes
| ground_name      = Hobart Cricket Ground
| nickname         = Blundstone Arena
| image            =
| caption          =
| country          = Australia
| location         =
| coordinates      =
| establishment    =
| seating_capacity =
| owner            =
| curator          =
| tenants          =
| end1             = Church Street End
| end2             = River End
| international    = yes
| firsttestdate    = 16–20 December
| firsttestyear    = 1989
| firsttesthome    = Australia
| firsttestaway    = Sri Lanka
| lasttestdate     = 14–16 January
| lasttestyear     = 2022
| lasttesthome     = Australia
| lasttestaway     = England
| firstodidate     = 12 January
| firstodiyear     = 1988
| firstodihome     = New Zealand
| firstodiaway     = Sri Lanka
| lastodidate      = 11 November
| lastodiyear      = 2018
| lastodihome      = Australia
| lastodiaway      = South Africa
| firstt20idate    = 21 February
| firstt20iyear    = 2010
| firstt20ihome    = Australia
| firstt20iaway    = Pakistan
| lastt20idate     = 2 November
| lastt20iyear     = 2025
| lastt20ihome     = Australia
| lastt20iaway     = India 
| firstwodidate    = 17 January
| firstwodiyear    = 1991
| firstwodihome    = Australia
| firstwodiaway    = New Zealand
| lastwodidate     = 17 January
| lastwodiyear     = 2025
| lastwodihome     = Australia
| lastwodiaway     = England
| firstwt20idate   = 21 February
| firstwt20iyear   = 2010
| firstwt20ihome   = Australia
| firstwt20iaway   = New Zealand
| lastwt20idate    = 30 January
| lastwt20iyear    = 2024
| lastwt20ihome    = Australia
| lastwt20iaway    = South Africa
| year1            =
| club1            =
| year2            =
| club2            =
| date             = 2 November
| year             = 2025
| source           = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/56407.html Cricinfo}}}}

'''Bellerive Oval''', currently known as '''Ninja Stadium''' for [[Naming rights|sponsorship reasons]], is a [[Cricket field|cricket oval]] and [[Australian rules football]] ground located in [[Bellerive, Tasmania|Bellerive]], a suburb on the eastern shore of [[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]], Australia. With a combination of seating and standing capacity of 19,500, it is the second-largest stadium in Tasmania, behind [[York Park]] in [[Launceston, Tasmania|Launceston]], which holds 21,000 spectators. Bellerive Oval is the only Tasmanian venue that regularly hosts international cricket matches.

The stadium serves as the home ground for the [[Tasmanian Tigers]], Tasmania's state cricket team, and the [[Hobart Hurricanes]], a [[Big Bash League]] franchise. It has hosted international [[Test cricket|Test matches]] since 1989 and [[One Day International|One-Day Internationals]] (ODIs) since 1988. 

In addition to cricket, Bellerive Oval is a secondary home ground for the [[Richmond Football Club]], an [[Australian Football League]] (AFL) team that plays one home game per season at the venue. Significant redevelopment projects have expanded the stadium's facilities to meet the requirements of high-profile events and increase spectator comfort.

==History==
[[File:Blundstone Arena 2022 04.jpg|thumb|Front gate in 2022]]
[[File:One-day Cricket Australia vs England, Bellerive Oval, January 2011 (2).jpg|right|thumb|Bellerive Oval with lights on in 2011]]
Football and cricket first started being played in the area where Bellerive Oval is now in the mid-to-late 19th century. In 1884, the first football match on record from the area was played between Carlton and Bellerive. In 1913, the piece of land located between [[Bellerive Beach]] and Church and Derwent streets was sold to the Clarence Council. One year later, the new Bellerive recreation ground was ready for use.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

The ground was largely unchanged until the mid-1980s. During this time, there was a hump in the centre of the ground, making only the top halves of players visible from the other side of the ground. There was a shed for players, located where the main pavilion now stands. There was a hill on the outer (where the hill now is) that could accommodate two rows of vehicles; the small scoreboard stood on the outer, close to where the electronic scoreboard is now, and the time clock sat about halfway up a training light tower.  Until very recently,{{When|date=December 2021}} the police booth sat in the north-east corner of the oval. A concrete cricket pitch served local junior teams until the 1956/57 season, when it was replaced by a turf wicket.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 1948, when the [[Clarence Football Club]] – a tenant of the ground – applied to join the [[Tasmanian Football League]], the ground had to upgrade to TFL standards.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

Some minor upgrades were made in the 1960s: clubrooms were built in 1961 and in 1963, a small grandstand (seating about 500) and new [[public address system]] were installed.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 1977, Tasmania gained admission into the [[Sheffield Shield]] and the TCA planned to move to a new oval, away from its headquarters at the [[TCA Ground]] on the Domain. Bellerive Oval was chosen ahead of [[KGV Oval]] and [[North Hobart Oval]]. $2.2 million was spent building new grandstands, training nets, a hill, new surface and centre wicket. The old TCA Ground scoreboard was relocated there and the centrepiece three-level members' pavilion was constructed.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

The newly refurbished ground was opened in 1986 for a [[Tasmanian Football League|TFL Statewide League]] roster match between Clarence and Hobart, which Clarence won in front of a crowd of 3,562. Significant damage to the newly laid turf resulted in no more football matches being scheduled for that season.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

The move was made in 1987 under TCA Chairman Denis Rogers, in time for the ground’s first international match—between [[Sri Lankan cricket team|Sri Lanka]] and [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]]—on 12 January 1988, before a crowd of 6,500.<ref>Sri Lanka v New Zealand Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 12 January 1987/88 (2006) [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/match/65428.html  Cricinfo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312074107/http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/match/65428.html |date=12 March 2007 }}</ref>

The first Test match in Tasmania was played at Bellerive from 16 to 20 December 1989, between [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] and [[Sri Lankan cricket team|Sri Lanka]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050410095457/http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=257 Bellerive Oval] [[City of Clarence|Clarence City Council]]</ref><ref>[http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/match/63519.html 2nd Test Australia v Sri Lanka ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313194430/http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/match/63519.html |date=13 March 2007 }}, 16–20 December 1989, at [[ESPNcricinfo]] (2006)</ref><ref>[http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/ground/56407.html Bellerive Oval Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222201315/http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/ground/56407.html |date=22 February 2009 }} at [[ESPNcricinfo]] (2006)</ref> Shortly afterwards, the new electronic scoreboard and Northern Stand were erected.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 2007, the venue saw the [[Tasmanian Tigers]] win the state's first [[Sheffield Shield]] and in 2008, the ground hosted its first [[One-Day Cup (Australia)|One-Day Cup]] final, also won by Tasmania.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

The oval became the first top-class cricket facility in Australia to sign a naming-rights sponsor in October 2011. A [[naming rights]] agreement with [[Blundstone Footwear]] resulted in the oval being renamed Blundstone Arena,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/bellerive-oval-to-officially-change-its-name-as-part-of-a-deal-with-tasmanian-footwear-brand-blundstone/story-e6frf3g3-1226159911902|title=Welcome to Blundstone Arena|date=6 October 2011|access-date=6 October 2011|publisher=[[Fox Sports (Australia)]]|archive-date=29 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129010602/http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/bellerive-oval-to-officially-change-its-name-as-part-of-a-deal-with-tasmanian-footwear-brand-blundstone/story-e6frf3g3-1226159911902|url-status=live}}</ref> which was temporarily discontinued during the ground's use in the [[2015 Cricket World Cup]].<ref>Stubbs, Brett [http://www.themercury.com.au/entertainment/events/blundstone-gets-boot-for-cricket-world-cup-as-bellerive-oval-cracks-down-on-advertising/news-story/8c2813cfa712c5d5a32c216e79c19598 Blundstone gets boot for Cricket World Cup as Bellerive Oval cracks down on advertising]. ''[[Hobart Mercury]]'', 8 March 2015. Accessed 7 February 2016</ref>

In 2023, Bellerive Oval saw further updates, which were particularly focused on improving accessibility and sustainability. The oval adopted several eco-friendly initiatives, including solar panels on the roofs of both the Ricky Ponting Stand and David Boon Stand, reducing its carbon footprint by 20%. These sustainability efforts were part of a broader push by [[Cricket Tasmania]] to modernise its venues and reduce environmental impact during large-scale events.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/bellerive-oval-to-reduce-carbon-footprint-with-solar-panels/news-story/abc12345|title=Bellerive Oval to reduce carbon footprint with solar panels|date=18 February 2023|access-date=24 October 2024|publisher=The Mercury}}</ref>

In October 2024, [[SharkNinja]] commenced a four-year naming rights deal, with the venue being renamed Ninja Stadium.<ref>[https://www.crickettas.com.au/news/4154192/cricket-tasmania-announces-ninja-as-the-new-naming-rights-partner-of-bellerive-oval Cricket Tasmania announces Ninja as the naming rights sponsor of Bellerive Oval] [[Cricket Tasmania]] 23 October 2024</ref><ref>[https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/hobarts-blundstone-arena-to-be-renamed-ninja-stadium/ Hobart’s Blundstone Arena to be renamed Ninja Stadium] ''[[Pulse Tasmania]]'' 23 October 2024</ref>

The most runs scored here in Test format is by [[Ricky Ponting]] (581 runs), followed by [[Michael Hussey]] (507 runs) and [[Mark Taylor (cricketer)|Mark Taylor]] (405 runs). The most wickets taken here is by [[Shane Warne]] (28 wickets), followed by [[Peter Siddle]] (22 wickets) and [[Glenn McGrath]] (19 wickets).

The most runs scored here in ODI format is by [[Kumar Sangakkara]] (346 runs), followed by [[Shaun Marsh]] (339 runs) and [[Tillakaratne Dilshan]] (324 runs). The most wickets taken here is by [[Wasim Akram]] (11 wickets).

==Capacity==
Following the completion of the 6,000 seat Ricky Ponting Stand in 2015, the stadium's capacity officially reached 19,500.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blundstonearena.com.au/the-venue/|title=Blundstone Arena - The Venue|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319122605/https://blundstonearena.com.au/the-venue/|archive-date=19 March 2017|access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref><ref name="ninjastadium-about" />

==Women's sport expansion==
Bellerive Oval has played an increasing role in women’s cricket and AFL, hosting several prominent matches for both the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) and AFLW. In 2023, the oval hosted the WBBL final, attracting 14,500 spectators, the highest ever attendance for a women’s match at the venue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketaustralia.com.au/news/wbbl-bellerive-final-record-attendance-2023/10412345|title=WBBL Final Record Set at Bellerive Oval|date=25 November 2023|access-date=24 October 2024|publisher=Cricket Australia}}</ref> The growth of women's sport in Tasmania has been highlighted by this venue's importance, particularly with investments into better training facilities for female athletes, such as a dedicated gym and locker room area built in 2022.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bellerive Expands Facilities for Female Athletes|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/bellerive-facilities-expansion-women-sport/102399283|date=12 May 2022|publisher=The Mercury}}</ref>

==Controversies==
Despite its continued development, Bellerive Oval has not been without controversy. Local residents have increasingly voiced concerns about the impact of larger crowds on the surrounding areas. Parking and traffic remain contentious issues, with local government proposals in 2024 to develop additional parking structures being met with opposition from environmental groups, who argue the new developments will encroach on parkland areas.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bellerive-oval-parking-development-controversy/2024/05/20|title=Controversy Over Parking and Development Near Bellerive Oval|date=20 May 2024|access-date=24 October 2024|publisher=The Guardian}}</ref>

==Structures and facilities==
[[File:Members area and view of ground.jpg|thumb|Members' Stand in 2009]]
In 1999, the Federal Government announced that it would contribute $5 million to upgrade Bellerive. The TCA added $10 million, on loan from the state government, and the Clarence City Council $1 million, enabling a $16 million upgrade. The first part of this upgrade was the state-of-the-art indoor nets. The 6,000-seat Southern Stand came next, which blocked winds and views of the Derwent, and contained the new media centre. The new Members' Area was the last of the upgrades, along with new [[perimeter fence]] and entry gates. The Members' Area features press and radio media areas, corporate boxes and lunchrooms, as well as the players areas, members' bars and TCA offices. The redevelopment was officially opened on 11 January 2003, when an overcrowd of 16,719 (official capacity 16,000) witnessed a thrilling one-day match between Australia and England, the victory going to Australia.<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/vb-series-2002-03-61122/australia-vs-england-7th-match-65635/full-scorecard Australia vs England Jan 11 2003] [[ESPNcricinfo]]</ref>

To allow for [[Day/night cricket|day-night]] matches to be played at the venue, four light towers were installed in 2009 for $4.8 million, enabling [[one-day international]] (ODI) and [[Twenty20]] cricket matches to be played there.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/10/18/104201_cricket.html|title=Cricket lights up at Bellerive|date=19 October 2009|publisher=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]]|access-date=12 November 2009|archive-date=5 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005174451/http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/10/18/104201_cricket.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The installation of these lights sparked significant debate from groups both for and against the new towers.<ref name="petition">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/26/2401459.htm|title=Bellerive Oval lights debate sparks online petition|date=26 October 2008|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|access-date=26 October 2008|archive-date=29 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029060222/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/26/2401459.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/19/2717662.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720023203/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/19/2717662.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2012|title=Locals pull up stumps over lights|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|Australia]]|date=19 October 2009}}</ref>

The ground was scheduled for further redevelopment by 2015, with the state government providing $15 million to expand the Southern Stand and Members' Stand, increasing the ground's capacity to 19,500 for the [[2015 Cricket World Cup]], along with an Ashes Test in the future, and the possibility of locking-in a long-term commitment for AFL games. AFL Tasmania is also looking at moving its offices to the ground as part of the redevelopment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/11/18/186901_tasmania-news.html|title=Drive for $21m Oval upgrade|date=18 November 2010|publisher=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115032256/http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/11/18/186901_tasmania-news.html|archive-date=15 January 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> At the official launch of the renovated stadium, it was announced that the new stand would be named the ''[[Ricky Ponting]] Stand'', and the existing Southern Stand would be named the ''[[David Boon]] Stand''.<ref name="standnaming">{{cite news|first=Brett|last=Stubbs|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/sport/tasmanian-cricket-greats-ponting-and-boon-make-eternal-stand-at-blundstone-arena/story-fnj4f7g3-1227192396922|title=Tasmanian cricket greats Ponting and Boon make eternal stand at Blundstone Arena|publisher=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]]|date=21 January 2015|access-date=21 January 2015|archive-date=21 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121124014/http://www.themercury.com.au/sport/tasmanian-cricket-greats-ponting-and-boon-make-eternal-stand-at-blundstone-arena/story-fnj4f7g3-1227192396922|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{wide image|CG-BelleriveOval-pano1.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|A panorama of [[Australia cricket team|Australia]] v [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] Cricket One-day International in 2007}}

==Events==
As well as being the home of domestic and international cricket and the [[Clarence Football Club]] in the now [[Tasmanian Football League|Tasmanian State League]], Bellerive Oval served in 2003 as a home to the [[Tasmania Devils Football Club (VFL)|Tasmanian Devils]] in the [[Victorian Football League|VFL]]. The first match attracted the highest VFL roster match crowd since 1986–6,970. The venue also hosted Tasmania's two finals matches, with the elimination win against [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] (4,800) and 10,073 for a semi-final against [[Port Melbourne Football Club|Port Melbourne]], which was won by Port Melbourne.
the venue hosted the [[2024–25 Big Bash League season|BBL 14 Final]] between the [[Hobart Hurricanes]] And the [[Sydney Thunder]] with a crowd of 15,706 on the 27 January 2025

==North Melbourne==
In 2010, talk of Melbourne-based [[Australian Football League]] (AFL) clubs shifting home games to Bellerive Oval surfaced.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/home-games-in-hobart-three-victorian-clubs-are-interested-20100612-y4pg.html Home games in Hobart: three Victorian clubs are interested] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106215259/http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/home-games-in-hobart-three-victorian-clubs-are-interested-20100612-y4pg.html |date=6 November 2012 }}, ''[[The Age]]'', Retrieved on 29 July 2010.</ref> [[Richmond Football Club|Richmond]] were considered the early front-runners, but by July 2010 [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] became the most likely candidate, given their willingness to move more than just two matches.<ref>DiFabrizio, Michael [http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/07/29/dont-knock-north-for-looking-at-hobart/ Don't knock North for looking at Hobart] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001220737/http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/07/29/dont-knock-north-for-looking-at-hobart/ |date=1 October 2012 }}, The Roar, Retrieved on 29 July 2010.</ref>

On 7 June 2011, North Melbourne announced a new three-year deal in partnership with transport company [[Spirit of Tasmania]], who announced its intent to sponsor North Melbourne home games in Hobart, at Bellerive Oval. From 2012 to 2014, North Melbourne played two home games per year at the venue.<ref>[http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/07/236061_afl.html AFL sponsor revealed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007225307/http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/07/236061_afl.html |date=7 October 2012 }}, The Mercury, Retrieved on 7 June 2011.</ref> The first game was played 8 April 2012 in Round 2, in which North Melbourne defeated the fledgling [[Greater Western Sydney Giants]] by 129 points. The original three-year deal was renewed and extended for a further two years, with [[City of Hobart|Hobart City Council]] and [[Spirit of Tasmania]] agreeing to provide sponsorship for North Melbourne to play three games per year at the venue in 2015 and 2016. A new deal, which did not include the council, was struck in 2016. The arrangement in effect from 2017 to 2021 allowed North Melbourne to continue playing three matches a season at Bellerive Oval,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/north-melbourne-thrilled-with-new-fiveyear-deal-to-play-afl-games-in-hobart/news-story/e2741b447126c7ebb19b81410a722980|title=North Melbourne thrilled with new five-year deal to play AFL games in Hobart|work=[[Herald Sun]]|date=3 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2016-06-03/norths-new-tasmania-deal|title=North's new Tasmania deal announced|date=3 July 2016|work=nmfc.com.au}}</ref> A renegotiated three-year deal effective from 2022 saw North Melbourne play four home games a year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kangaroos kicking goals in Tasmania in 2022 |url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/1017360/kangaroos-kicking-goals-in-tasmania-in-2022 |website=[[North Melbourne Football Club]]|date=16 September 2021 |access-date=11 September 2022}}</ref> North Melbourne ended the association with the venue in 2025, playing two home games at Bellerive Oval that season and transitioning two home games per season to [[Perth]] and [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]], Western Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1255351/north-melbourne-kangaroos-to-play-two-home-games-in-wa-from-2025-27|title=Roos to play two 'home' games in WA from 2025-27|work=afl.com.au|date=13 November 2024}}</ref>

==Attendance records==
[[File:Bellerive Oval Hill.JPG|thumb|right|Hill, [[Australia cricket team|Australia]] v [[South Africa cricket team|South Africa]], 2009]]
The record attendance for Bellerive Oval before redevelopment was 16,719 for a [[Limited overs cricket|One Day International]] between Australia and [[England Cricket Team|England]] on 14 January 2003.<ref name="Bellerive Oval Crowds">{{cite web
  | title = Bellerive Oval Crowds
  | publisher = Australian Stadiums
  | url = http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums_crowds.php?id=13
  | access-date = 22 January 2008
  | archive-date = 23 July 2008
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080723094443/http://austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums_crowds.php?id=13
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> The first international match at the venue was a One Day International between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on 12 January 1988 and attracted a then record crowd for an international in Hobart of 6,180.<ref name="crowdmatch">{{cite web
  | title = NEW ZEALAND v SRI LANKA 1987–88
  | publisher = Cricinfo
  | url = http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153484.html?from=login
  | access-date = 22 January 2008
  | archive-date = 19 January 2013
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130119190700/http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153484.html?from=login
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>
On 21 February 2010, a [[Twenty20]] International match between Australia and the West Indies attracted a crowd of 15,575. This was the first international day-night cricket match played at Bellerive Oval.

The record attendance at Bellerive Oval since the addition of the Ricky Ponting stand is 18,149 during a [[2015–16 Big Bash League season|2015–16 BBL]] match between [[Hobart Hurricanes]] and [[Perth Scorchers]] on 10 January 2016. The crowd of 17,844 for an [[Australian Football League|AFL]] game in [[2016 AFL season|2016]] between {{AFL NM}} and {{AFL Ric}} on 3 June 2016 is the highest crowd ever at Bellerive Oval for an [[Aussie Rules Football|AFL]] match.<ref name="1 Jan">[https://twitter.com/HurricanesBBL/status/682869864684326912 WOW!!! The BIGGEST EVER crowd for a cricket match @BlundstoneArena] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209192007/https://twitter.com/HurricanesBBL/status/682869864684326912 |date=9 February 2016 }} twitter.com/HurricanesBBL. Retrieved on 1 January 2016</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!No.
!Date
!Teams
!Sport
!Competition
!Crowd
|-
| align=center|1 || align=center|10 January 2016 || align=center|[[Hobart Hurricanes]] v. [[Perth Scorchers]] || align=center|[[Cricket]] || align=center|[[Big Bash League|BBL]] || 18,149
|-
| align=center|2 || align=center|26 December 2016 || align=center|[[Hobart Hurricanes]] v. [[Melbourne Stars]] || align=center|[[Cricket]] || align=center|[[Big Bash League|BBL]] || 18,079
|-
| align="center" |3|| align="center" |8 January 2017 || align="center" |[[Hobart Hurricanes]] v. [[Sydney Thunder]] || align="center" |[[Cricket]] || align="center" |[[Big Bash League|BBL]] || 17,939
|-
| align="center" |4 || align="center" |3 June 2016 || align="center" |[[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] v. [[Richmond Football Club|Richmond]] || align="center" |[[Australian rules football]] || align="center" |[[Australian Football League|AFL]] || 17,844
|-
| align="center" |5 || align="center" |9 May 2015 || align="center" |[[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] v. [[Richmond Football Club|Richmond]] || align="center" |[[Australian rules football]] || align="center" |[[Australian Football League|AFL]] || 17,544<ref>[http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2015-05-20/roos-claim-record-crowd Roos claim record crowd] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521090742/http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2015-05-20/roos-claim-record-crowd |date=21 May 2015 }} NMFC.com.au</ref>
|-
| align="center" |6 || align="center" |21 January 2017 || align="center" |[[Hobart Hurricanes]] v. [[Perth Scorchers]]|| align="center" |[[Cricket]] || align="center" |[[Big Bash League|BBL]] || 17,445
|-
| align=center|7 || align=center|1 January 2016 || align="center" |[[Hobart Hurricanes]] v. [[Sydney Thunder]]|| align="center" |[[Cricket]]|| align="center" |[[Big Bash League|BBL]]|| 17,151
|-
| align="center" |8 || align="center" |2 January 2017 || align="center" |[[Hobart Hurricanes]] v. [[Adelaide Strikers]]|| align="center" |[[Cricket]]|| align="center" |[[Big Bash League|BBL]]|| 16,815
|-
| align="center" |9 || align="center" |14 January 2003 || align="center" |[[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] v. [[England cricket team|England]]|| align="center" |[[Cricket]]|| align="center" |[[One Day International|ODI]]|| 16,719
|-
| align="center" |10 || align="center" |20 August 2016 || align="center" |[[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] v. [[Sydney Swans]]|| align="center" |[[Australian rules football]]|| align="center" |[[Australian Football League|AFL]]|| 16,495
|}
<sup>''Last updated on 21 December 2021. Source:''</sup><ref>{{Cite web|title=Blundstone Arena Crowds (Bellerive Oval) {{!}} Austadiums|url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/blundstone-arena/crowds|access-date=2021-12-20|website=www.austadiums.com}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[Metro Tasmania|Metro]] bus services are available to and from Bellerive Oval. Development into an international venue has far outgrown the capacity of local infrastructure to adequately handle the large influxes of patrons attempting to access the venue. In particular, there is little provision for spectator parking. Thus, large numbers of vehicles are parked in the surrounding streets when such events are held, resulting in access issues for local residents and need for traffic-control measures.

A [[Ferries in Hobart|ferry service]] operating between [[Brooke Street Pier]] in central [[Hobart]] and Bellerive Pier on the eastern shore is promoted as an alternative transport option for spectators attending major events at Bellerive Oval.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://derwentferries.com.au/travel-info/ |title=Travel Information |publisher=Derwent Ferries |access-date=3 November 2025 |quote=In the past we have run services to the football and cricket, between Hobart and Bellerive. These services were run in a manner that didn’t interfere with our contractual obligations and were commissioned by organisations other than the Tasmanian Government. (See FAQ section: "Why aren’t you running a service to the Wooden Boat Festival / Dark Mofo / Hobart Regatta / Ironman / tonight’s cricket game / my niece’s 5th birthday?")}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/tickets/venues/bellerive-oval |title=Getting to Bellerive Oval |publisher=Cricket Australia |access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ninjastadium.com.au/visit/getting-to-stadium |title=Getting to Ninja Stadium |publisher=Ninja Stadium |access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref>

In an attempt to address parking and access issues, development of the oval has encroached upon adjacent properties and in particular the Bellerive Rotary Park situated between the oval and the beach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prelive.themercury.com.au/article/2012/06/04/334121_tasmania-news.html|title=The Mercury|work=themercury.com.au|access-date=16 May 2014|archive-date=17 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517115502/http://prelive.themercury.com.au/article/2012/06/04/334121_tasmania-news.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This park is on land owned by the Clarence Council as is the adjacent oval. As the oval is an exclusive, fenced-off area and the park is an inclusive area open to all residents, many residents reject the encroachment.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

==See also==
*[[List of international cricket centuries at Bellerive Oval]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bellerive Oval}}
*{{Official website}}
*{{Austadiums|13}}

{{Australia national cricket team}}
{{Hobart Hurricanes}}
{{Big Bash League Cricket grounds}}
{{Test Cricket Grounds AUS}}
{{International cricket centuries by ground}}
{{International cricket five-wicket hauls by ground}}
{{Australian Football League}}
{{AFL grounds}}
{{AFL Women's venues}}
{{North Melbourne Football Club}}
{{Tasmanian Football League teamlist}}
{{Hobart landmarks}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Australian Football League grounds]]
[[Category:City of Clarence]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Hobart]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1914]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Hobart]]
[[Category:Test cricket grounds in Australia]]
[[Category:Women's Big Bash League]]
[[Category:1914 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Tasmania cricket team]]
[[Category:Australian rules football in Tasmania]]