The Launceston Silverdome will review its safety measures following a recent security scare at an AFL match.
Passionate JackJumpers member Kane Heazlewood, 13, stands outside the Launceston Silverdome, looking forward to increased security for NBL games next season. Photo: Riley Prewer
On April 3, 2025, two men were arrested at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after allegedly being found in possession of two firearms.
This has triggered a nationwide response, with sport and entertainment venues across the country being forced to reconsider their safety protocols.
The Silverdome, located on the outskirts of Launceston, Tasmania, is a multi-purpose velodrome that hosts two National Basketball League (NBL) matches each year.
Unlike most major sporting stadiums in Australia, the venue does not conduct mandatory bag searches upon entry.
Silverdome operations manager Greg Banks confirmed that the NBL does not require its stadiums to execute bag searches upon entry.
“We don’t currently do bag checks,” Banks said. “I’m not saying we won’t do in the future.”
Local Launceston NBL fans have long expressed concern about the lack of bag checks at the Silverdome.
Thirteen-year-old JackJumper member Kane Heazlewood said he was uneasy about the venue’s security. “Since the AFL incident, I have been very worried about attending the NBL (at the Silverdome) because they don’t do bag checks,” he said.
Fans are not the only ones concerned.
Following the incident at the MCG, Banks said: “After any issue like that comes up, every venue in the country would have a revision of their security procedures, absolutely.”
He said “presence means a lot” when it comes to security at the Silverdome, suggesting that just having security guards at the venue was a deterrent.
But fan Heazlewood disagreed. “There is barely any security at the NBL compared to AFL games.”
While NBL security measures in Tasmania may be more relaxed than those interstate, Banks offered insight into how the Tasmanian security landscape has shaped current safety practices.
“We are very fortunate in this state that we don’t quite have the level of antagonism that other venues have around the country,” he said.
Banks said there had “only really been one issue” in the five years that the NBL has been played at the Silverdome.
A review will take place before the upcoming NBL season, with the goal of implementing the necessary security measures at the Silverdome to keep fans and players safe.
