Sydney Classic 23-24 Jan: interested? Reply today

The 2027 Sydney Junior Basketball Classic Tournament is on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January 2027 at Bankstown Basketball Stadium. We'd like El!te players to be there, and we're asking who is interested. Nothing is booked or charged by saying you're interested, and it isn't a commitment. Please reply by Sunday 20 December 2026.

The tournament is on the calendar here: Sydney Junior Basketball Classic

Why it's a great weekend

A tournament weekend is about much more than the four games. We tend to go out to dinner together on the Saturday night, and it's a lovely chance for the girls to bond like a family. Parents get to sit around, have a quiet evening and enjoy some good food. Team building, attitude building and skill building all come with it, and it's a fantastic chance to get out of town together and have a great time.

El!te doesn't play a local seasonal competition, so tournaments are how our players get their game time. A weekend where every team is guaranteed four games is exactly the kind of run of matches our players need, and it falls right at the start of the 2027 season.

What it is

The Sydney Junior Basketball Classic Tournament is a two-day junior tournament for teams from every age group. Its tagline is "Your 2027 season starts here".

• All teams are guaranteed 4 games. Every player gets proper court time, whatever their team's results.
• Age groups: Mixed Under 10; Boys Under 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20; Girls Under 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20.
• Two divisions: A Grade is for rep teams and academies. B Grade is for domestic level teams.

Most of our players would look at B Grade, which is made for domestic level teams. A Grade is aimed at rep teams and academies. Those are the tournament's own descriptions, and we will talk with families about which fits each team before anything is entered.

How we think it will run

This is our best guess of the usual format, not something the organisers have confirmed. We expect three games on the Saturday, then one game on the Sunday morning, which decides who goes into the semi-finals or straight into the grand finals. That fits the four guaranteed games. We'll know for sure when the draw is released.

When and where

Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January 2027, at Bankstown Basketball Stadium, on Third Avenue in Condell Park, Sydney. Condell Park is a suburb near Bankstown, not the Bankstown town centre. Teams play on both the Saturday and the Sunday. Game times aren't known yet and depend on the draw, so getting there from Canberra for a Saturday morning game needs careful thought: either an early start, or travelling up on the Friday.

What it costs

• Team entry: $550 per team.
• Early bird: $500 per team, if the team is nominated and paid by 5 December 2026.
• Team nominations close on 5 January 2027.

We'd like to keep squads small, around 7 or 8 players, so team registration works out to roughly $70 to $80 per player, depending on numbers. Travel, accommodation and food are your own costs, paid privately by each family.

The early bird saves only $50 a team, which works out to a few dollars per family, so there is no need to rush for it. El!te will decide which teams to enter by 31 December 2026, and we will handle the nominations, payment and entry for the team either way, so families don't need to deal with the tournament or the venue themselves.

Getting there, parking and where to stay

• Getting there. It is about a 3-hour drive from Canberra (roughly 300 km). A train or coach also runs to Sydney, but it takes longer and you would still need to get out to Condell Park.
• The venue. Bankstown Basketball Stadium has seven courts and holds about 600 people, so it is a mid-sized venue and will be busy on a tournament weekend. There is a canteen with hot food and coffee.
• Parking. We haven't been able to confirm the parking. Arrive early and share cars where you can.
• Where to stay. Motels in the area generally run from about $90 to $120 a night for two to three people, which suits most families of one parent and one player. Family rooms and hotels cost more. Late January is peak season, so book early on a rate you can cancel.
• One night away. Teams play on both the Saturday and the Sunday, so one night away is the realistic plan, and a Saturday-morning start needs thought. Bring water bottles and hats.

There are some details we don't know yet: who is organising the tournament, game times, parking, accessibility and spectator entry. El!te is finding these out and will pass them on to members as soon as we have them. You don't need to contact the tournament or the venue yourself.

Key dates

• Reply by Sunday 20 December 2026.
• El!te decides which teams to enter by 31 December 2026.
• Team nominations close on 5 January 2027.
• The tournament: Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January 2027.

How to say you're interested

To tell us you're interested, you need a membership on the El!te website. Anyone can read about the tournament, but only members can reply. Your website membership is also what lets you make bookings, see upcoming events and read news articles.

If you haven't been contacted about a membership on the website yet, message Matthew or Anthony in the group chat with your name and email address and they'll send you an invite. It's the easiest invite you'll ever get: all we need is your name and an email address, and you then choose your own password.

El!te handles the nominations, payment and entry, so you don't need to contact the tournament or the venue. After we know who is keen, El!te will decide which teams it enters and let families know the next steps.