From: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/af ... 8dff94a421Adelaide Football Club to establish its new home base at Thebarton Oval
Adelaide will establish its new home base at Thebarton Oval.
The Crows had been weighing up between Thebarton and the former Brompton Gasworks, which the State Government awarded to a Melbourne-based developer in January.
Adelaide chairman John Olsen said the new home, which would encompass two ovals, as well as indoor training headquarters and community space, would be world-class.
“This development will underpin our football-first focus and it will benefit our players, coaches, staff, corporate partners, members and supporters, as well as the local community, for many years to come,” Olsen said.
“Aside from being a state-of-the-art headquarters for all players, coaches and staff, it will be our AFLW team’s home ground, having dedicated facilities for both athletes and spectators.”
The State Government welcomed the Adelaide Crows announcement, a spokesman said.
“The government’s Brompton Gasworks site review is assessing complex issues that remain subject to ongoing review,” the spokesman added.
“It is expected that a final report will be presented to Government in the near future for its deliberation, with the Planning Minister to respond when Parliament returns.”
Further details on the proposed development were sent to members this morning:
And a few more pics from a second Advertiser article which pretty much paraphrases the above email:After many months of consideration and extensive due diligence, I am pleased to inform you that we have identified the best site to meet our long-term requirements for a new world class headquarters.
The near city location of Thebarton Oval brings to life high performance advantages which align with our football-first strategy. There are also a large number of positives for you as Members, along with our broader fan base and the community.
Given our progress, I thought it was appropriate to provide you with context around our decision-making, as well as an update on other details about the development.
- The site encompasses 9.1ha and accommodates a large sports precinct. By comparison, it is about 30 percent bigger than another parcel of land previously considered at Brompton;
- The State Government’s latest plans for the South Road tunnels mean a large section of Kings Reserve would be available from the outset, rather than the Club having to wait 7-10 years as initially advised. Therefore, two ovals can be established. One will be the size of Adelaide Oval, with the other replicating the MCG;
- Gender equity with AFLW facilities capable of accommodating the industry’s future expansion to full-time athletes and coaches;
- First-class aquatic facilities encompassing cutting edge hydrotherapy resources, as well as leading rehabilitation and medical amenities, with publicly accessible allied health services;
- An indoor artificial grassed training field which is nearly double the size of what is currently available at West Lakes;
- A new and improved council community hub can be developed to replace the existing building which will be demolished as part of the South Road works;
- More member and fan focussed areas, such as an interactive museum and café, along with greater on-site car parking options;
- Added facilities, such as a skateboard park, playground with dedicated parking, and soccer pitch-sized turfed area can also be established;
- Increased community greenspace which is fully open to the local community. It sits alongside two AFL competition-sized ovals that can help address the significant shortage of playing fields across suburban Adelaide;
- Significantly lower environmental remediation risk as well as no road closure with subsequent and costly sewer trunk relocation requirements, compared to the former Brompton Gasworks site.
As you can see, there is a great deal of upside and the high-performance components at Thebarton can be industry leading, and there are equally impressive facilities for you.
I would also like to touch on the former Brompton Gasworks site, which was once of interest to us. The previous State Government awarded it to a Melbourne-based developer in January however, the tender process for that location is currently the subject of a review by the Malinauskas Government.
While this has been going on in recent months, we have taken the opportunity to develop a master plan for Thebarton Oval which aligns with our strategic agenda and ultimately, it is a compelling proposal.
There is a great deal of work still to be done. We are continuing to negotiate lease terms and conditions with the City of West Torrens and SANFL, with the latter currently having a footprint at the site. We will also be seeking State Government funding support to enable the project to proceed and we appreciate the open and constructive discussions to date.
Our objective is to deliver a win-win outcome for all parties, as well as our game more broadly in South Australia.
This is a complex and inter-generational project which we must get right. As always, I look forward to providing you with further updates as we reach key milestones during this important and exciting journey. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Regards,
Hon John Olsen AO
Chairman
Or just Queen's reserve?
