Whitten Oval set to be revived

Adz

Brownlow Medallist
Aug 17, 2003
16,072
8,125
Melbourne
AFL Club
Collingwood
AFL matches for premiership points would return to the Whitten Oval within five years under a bold $150 million redevelopment plan.
The Western Bulldogs have confirmed they will push to play “heritage” games at the kennel in coming seasons by increasing crowd capacity at their spiritual home to 18,000.
Low-drawing interstate clubs like Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney would be the most likely opponents if the AFL ticks off on the proposal.
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“We would love to see the occasional heritage AFL match return to the ground in time,” Dogs chief executive Ameet Bains told the Herald Sun.
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Digital images of how a Whitten Oval redevelopment would look.

“A redeveloped Whitten Oval for AFLW matches, with increased capacity and a first-class match day experience, certainly makes that a real opportunity.”
The redevelopment plan includes demolition and rebuilding of the Whitten Stand, an indoor training field, convention centre, football department, increased seating and broadcast-quality light towers at a cost of about $45 million.
The Dogs want a revamped Whitten Oval to become a central hub for the game’s growing women’s competition.
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Whitten Oval’s capacity would be increased to 18,000 under the proposed plan.

State and federal funds and the intended sale of the Bulldogs’ two poker machines venues at Footscray and Dromana will help pay for the Whitten Oval rebuild, Bains said.
“We currently have $1m funding from the State Government to conduct more detailed design,” he said.
“There is also a compelling business case outlining the significant community benefits our redevelopment will bring that will shortly be formally submitted. We expect this to lead to further State Government support.”
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The Bulldogs prepare to run through the banner in Round 21, 1997.

Sports Minister Martin Pakula said last night: “We’ve made an election commitment to provide $1 million towards design work for the master plan — we look forward to seeing the plan when it’s completed and talking to the Dogs and the AFL about the Bulldogs’ ambitions.”
A town square-style piazza, public running track and large residential development on crown land at the ground’s Geelong Rd end gifted to the club last year are also detailed.
“Our masterplan reflects the club’s long-term vision of the Whitten Oval precinct as a hub for the west that attracts and connects our community to the football club and gives our club the best chance of success on and off the field,” Bains said.
[IMG='width:375px;']https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/6b2b82752b0b557f867de519888ee634?width=1024[/IMG]
Digital images of what a redeveloped Whitten Oval might look like.

“Our immediate focus is to improve the experience of watching football at the venue to ensure the Whitten Oval remains one of the key AFL priority venues for AFLW matches.
“It will also involve a slightly reoriented playing surface and broadcast lighting quality, something the AFL has committed to investing in, given it sees the ground as a model venue for AFLW matches, especially at night.”
 

basashi

Premiership Player
Jun 18, 2010
4,070
5,449
AFL Club
Fremantle
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FFC Quay Club
18k is not really enough though is it? Never mind visiting fans, 18k is not enough for your own.
 

foxdog50

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 1, 2006
9,873
11,950
Australia
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Australia (Cricket)
This would be awesome for the Doggies... Hopefully it actually goes threw... As a Geelong Fan I'd be happy as for them. Even if it is a small Crowd it will suit a purpose for those low fan bases..
 
Feb 9, 2009
17,159
23,041
Footscray
AFL Club
Richmond
I feel sorry for the people in and around footscray on game days if this happens. I lived just down the road literally for 5 years and went past nearly every day for 10 and I can tell you, just driving around there to get to highpoint or park nearby to use the public gym was bad enough. Trying to accommodate even 1000 cars for attendees around there will be an absolute s**t show.
 
Apr 13, 2006
32,868
77,030
The Bitter End
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
Its for the 'women'

You've got to give it to the AFL, they read the tea leaves and totally exploited the mood of governments to fall over themselves giving money to women's sports. Using their own powerful self promotion they gazumped far more deserving women's sports to further bankroll the facilities for the the richest sport/competition in the country. Kind of dispicible when you think about it.
 
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