Wollongong Entertainment Centre

WIN Entertainment Centre
The WEC / The Sandpit
	WIN Entertainment Centre as seen from Lang Park (April 2018)
Former names	Wollongong Entertainment Centre
Location	Corner of Crown & Harbour Streets, Wollongong, NSW 2520
Coordinates	34°25′36″S 150°54′10″E / 34.42667°S 150.90278°ECoordinates: 34°25′36″S 150°54′10″E / 34.42667°S 150.90278°E
Owner	Wollongong Sportsground Trust, Pty Ltd.
Capacity	Basketball: 6,000; Concerts: 5,000; Reduced mode: 1,000-3,000
Record attendance	5,839 – 18 February 2005, Wollongong Hawks vs Sydney Kings NBL
Surface	Customisable
Construction
Opened	5 September 1998
Architect	NSW Government Architect
Tenants
	Illawarra Hawks (NBL) (1998–present)

Wollongong Entertainment Centre (also known by its naming rights sponsor WIN Entertainment Centre and colloquially as the WEC) is a multi-purpose indoor arena, located in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.

The WEC opened on 5 September 1998 with a concert by Bob Dylan and Patti Smith; 4,935 people attended the event. Dylan performed at the venue again in 2011, performing to a crowd of 3,214 people, and again in 2018.

The arena is 3 minutes walk from the city centre and has hosted a variety of events including Federation Cup tennis, world championship boxing and international musical acts.

Every year the WIN Entertainment Centre holds the Wakakirri Story Dance Wollongong heat, Southern Stars and also a variety of concerts and expos.

The building was designed by the New South Wales Government Architect.

Sporting events[]

The centre's logo

The venue is the home of the Illawarra Hawks who play in the Australasian-based National Basketball League (NBL). During Hawks games it is referred to as "The Sandpit" in reference to being next to the beach. It is also a play on name of the Hawks former home, the Beaton Park Stadium, which was commonly known as "The Snakepit". The Hawks are the only original club left in the NBL.

The record attendance for an event at the WIN Centre is 5,839, set on 18 February 2005, when the Hawks played their regular season finale against the Sydney Kings.