If you've driven past the old Jooce nightclub and Rivers site on Maroondah Highway and wondered what's going in, we now have a date. Varsity, a sports and entertainment venue from Western Australia, opens at 93-97 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood, on Friday 13 November.
Varsity's Head of Marketing, Abby Rohde, told MX the date is firm and in the calendar. It's the brand's first venue on the east coast.
What's inside
Varsity is built around live sport, food and games, and the Ringwood venue is a big one. According to Varsity, it will have:
A 450-seat main bar with three mega screens, plus screens right through the venue
Eight lanes of ten-pin bowling
An arcade with about 65 games and a fully stocked prize counter
Three function spaces
A dedicated kids' food offering, so it works for a family day out as well as a night watching the footy
Around 100 local jobs
Varsity is recruiting now and expects to hire about 100 staff for the Ringwood venue alone. If you or someone in your house is looking for work, the careers page is on the Varsity website.
Support for local clubs
Varsity says it has a strong history of supporting local sports clubs in WA and plans to keep doing that here. Senior sports teams and clubs in Ringwood and surrounds are welcome to get in touch through the contact page on the Varsity website to find out more. So if you're on a senior club committee, it's worth having a look before the venue opens.
In their words
"We're incredibly excited to be taking Varsity to the east coast and bringing our unique brand of sports and entertainment hospitality to Ringwood," Abby Rohde, Head of Marketing, said. "Varsity has become a key player in Western Australia's sports and entertainment scene, creating spaces where great food, live sport and unforgettable experiences come together. This next chapter is a huge milestone for the business, and we can't wait to introduce Victorians to what makes Varsity so special."
Opening details can change, so check with Varsity before you plan a visit or book a function.
Main image: artist's impression of Varsity Ringwood, supplied by Varsity.
Join the free MX newsletter for local stories, events and openings across Maroondah every Tuesday.