Lauren Jackson says UC Arena 'would change the landscape' for the WNBL

This was the state of the Canberra Capitals' new high performance base at the University of Canberra in 2014.

Now the university has hatched a plan to build a 7000-10,000 seat arena on campus dubbed the UC Arena which would provide the WNBL powerhouse with a state of the art home.

Jackson is now Basketball Australia's head of women's basketball, and says an arena at UC would "change the landscape" for the sport.

"It would take the league to a new level of professionalism. Having a team that has its own venue, it's pretty exciting," Jackson said.

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"It would be remarkable. UC have been such a huge advocate for women's sport. The work they've done with the Capitals and [director of sport Carrie Graf], it would be incredible.

"It would be so fitting to have a venue there like that. It would definitely change the landscape for women's basketball. What UC are doing for women's sport, they're leading the way."

University officials want the venue built within three to four years, fearing for the future of the sport and entertainment sector following the closure of the AIS Arena.

It would give the Capitals an elite level training base and home venue.

"Right now we're standing in the current Capitals high performance facility, a 40-year-old, barely high school-standard gym," Graf said.

"When we first brought the Capitals here and Lauren Jackson was on the team, these had wooden backboards, for a high performance team.

"When the sports hub one was built eight years ago, there were no facilities for female athletes. Even in that short time there has been a shift."

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