PORT Adelaide has been joined by the Hon Mark Butler MP to officially open the club’s new state-of-the-art training and recovery facility, the MG High Performance Centre and community precinct at Alberton Oval.  

The $25 million project has transformed Alberton Oval, the home of the Port Adelaide Football Club since 1880, into a world class high-performance sport precinct for the club's AFL and AFLW teams, whilst also providing access to facilities for local junior sport, and significantly improved greenspaces for community use.  

The new MG High Performance Centre includes an indoor training field, two international standard basketball courts, a soccer pitch, gymnasium, wet recovery areas, locker room, lecture theatre, medical amenities, commercial standard kitchen, player wellness space, and media studio. 

A key feature of the development is the provision of the facilities to be used for local junior sports, including the West Adelaide Bearcats (basketball), and the Northwest Junior Soccer Association, optimising the space for wider community use. 

The project was supported by a $15 million investment from the Australian Government, $3 million investment from the South Australian Government, and additional funding from the AFL, City of Port Adelaide Enfield and club co-major partners, MG and GFG.  

The Hon Mark Butler MP said the redeveloped precinct will have flow on benefits for local sporting clubs. 

“Alberton has always had a proud tradition of producing world class talent,” Minister Butler said.  

“Now with the $15 million investment by the Albanese Government the club will have world class, high-performance training, recovery and match day facilities for the Port Adelaide Football Club’s AFL, AFLW and SANFL programs. 

“It’s not just benefiting the club; the redeveloped precinct is going to have flow on benefits for our local sporting clubs with two new basketball courts and a soccer pitch.  

“I can’t wait to see the next Connor Rozee and Erin Phillips benefit from these outstanding facilities.”  

Port Adelaide chairman, David Koch has thanked both the Australian and State Governments for their support of this transformational project.  

“This project is so much more than a home for our football club – it was crucial in creating much needed space for local junior sport (basketball and soccer) to play and train, ensuring we continue to foster participation in sport at grassroots level, while also providing a significantly improved area for the community to enjoy with their family and friends,” Mr. Koch said.  

“We have already seen increased community use and activation of the precinct by the local community and our players are very proud of the new facilities.  

“Alberton Oval is a very special place for our football club and the community, and we are delighted with the outstanding facilities that are now able to provide our staff and players, and the junior sport community access to this fantastic precinct.  

“The opening of the MG High Performance Centre is the final piece of the puzzle in this phase of the redevelopment, following the completion of the world-class AFLW training and recovery facilities in the Fos Williams Grandstand, and The Precinct at Alberton which includes a brand-new Port Store, museum, and bar and kitchen in 2022.  

“Providing our teams with world-class facilities is critical in ensuring we’re giving them the best possible chance to have success on the field. We’ve now taken our facilities from being some of the worst in the competition, to some of the best, and in a league as fierce as the AFL, it’s imperative to provide our players with an elite standard facility. 

“Alberton Oval is transforming into a world-class sports and recreational precinct. We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved here and know it will be a space for the community, our members, and fans to enjoy for many years to come. 

“On behalf of everyone at the Port Adelaide Football Club, I would like to thank both governments for their support, along with our builders Sarah Constructions, and all our wonderful donors who have been incredibly generous.  

“Our members are at the core of everything we do at Port Adelaide, and this project wouldn’t have been possible without their support. We will be forever grateful.  

“This whole redevelopment is the biggest project we have ever undertaken, and it will leave a lasting legacy for the future.”