If February 7, 2013, was the blackest day in Australian sport, then March 24, 2017, was the blackest day in Canberra sport.
It's the day ACT chief minister Andrew Barr said there wouldn't be a new, indoor, rectangular stadium in Civic.
It means Canberra Raiders and ACT Brumbies fans will be stuck at the outdated Canberra Stadium, which was built in 1977, for the indefinite future.
The announcement is a dagger in the hearts for both rugby codes after they were given false hope a new stadium would be built in the heart of Canberra by the mid 2020s.
Now, it seems that stadium will never come.
First the Mr Fluffy asbestos debacle pushed the $350 million project back as the government's resources went into fixing that mess, along with building the controversial light rail.
Now Barr has thrown a massive spanner in the works by saying not only does the new stadium depend on the Brumbies' Super Rugby survival, but also the invention of a team that's as fictional as Iron Fist, who the Raiders modelled their jersey's on for Friday night's game against the Brisbane Broncos.
After Fairfax Media revealed the Civic stadium was on the same chopping block as the Brumbies, Barr was asked for confirmation on ABC radio on Friday morning.
"Absolutely. There's no way, I mean a new stadium really requires three teams to play out of it - Raiders, Brumbies and an A-League team in the summer to make it economically viable," Barr said.
"If you're left with one team then no it's not viable at all.
"If the Brumbies no longer participate in Super Rugby and Canberra only has the Raiders as our only team then you would not build a brand new stadium to be used 11 times a year."
Without being pedantic about the Raiders actually playing 12 home games every season, what's all this about an A-League team?
Here we were thinking what should be a highly unlikely event - the Brumbies getting culled - was the only obstacle that would stop the new stadium and Barr drops that bombshell.
Football Federation Australia has made it abundantly clear there will not be an A-League team in Canberra. End of story.
Ipso facto, there now won't be a Civic stadium either.
The A-League has even put off expansion, despite a number of interested parties coming forward to show their interest in joining the competition.
Tasmania, Wollongong, southern Sydney, South Melbourne, but nothing but crickets from Canberra.
It still remains unclear whether there'll even be a part-time A-League presence in the ACT next year, with the government yet to announce if they'll set-up a deal with the extremely keen Central Coast Mariners for next summer.
The Mariners played two games in front of poor crowds this summer at their own expense, but were hoping they could get a deal to play a few of their home games in Canberra every season - similar to what AFL team Greater Western Sydney has.
Barr's revelation is another massive blow to ACT sports fans after the Inner South Canberra Community Council kiboshed plans for Manuka Oval to be brought into the 21st century last year.
The Giants and developer Grocon had teamed up to propose an $800 million redevelopment that would've created a brand spanking new Manuka at no cost to the taxpayer.
But alas, that's not going to happen either thanks to the vocal 1000 or so members of the ISCCC forcing Barr's government to turn their backs on the proposal in the lead-up to the 2016 election.
That minority saw it as a victory, but with packed houses a regular occurrence at the historic Manuka ground it was anything but.
Instead the actions of a few had ruined it for everyone else - unless of course you like lining up for a beer, a soft drink, a pie, a bucket of chips or a portable toilet.
For Canberra sports fans' mental health they'd best forget a new stadium in Civic was ever in the pipeline and get used to the aged facilities at Canberra Stadium instead.
Gone is the dream of a purpose-built venue that brings fans closer to the action.
Gone is the chance of a stadium that's not out in the boon docks, where it's a hassle to get to and parking is a nightmare - not to mention the fact there's hardly any bars or restaurants to socialise in before and after the game.
And even more pertinent is as the mercury starts to drop towards the impending big winter freeze - the chance of being inside and out of the elements is also gone.
Oh well, the good news is just as the fallout from blackest day in sport seemed to drag on for an eternity, Canberra sports fans now have the same amount of time to get used to it.
