NEW plans have been released, detailing the redevelopment of the Port Adelaide Footballers’ Club (The Port Club) at Alberton.
Included in the high-class transformation is an interactive museum to showcase the 150-year history of the Port Adelaide Football Club and ensure the stories and the people of the Club are preserved and shared with future generations.
Included in stage one is also an improved and expanded retail experience with a new Port Store, while there are also plans in stage two for a new sports bar, dining room and separate meeting space upstairs.
Port Adelaide Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Richardson, said work on the exciting new project would get underway in January.
“Port Adelaide is the only authentic community football club to enter the AFL from outside of Victoria, in its own right. That was on the back of its success on-field and also the passion of its community off-field,” Mr Richardson said.
“This redevelopment of the Port Club, or the ‘footballers club’ as it was known back when Bob McLean had the vision to develop it in the 60s and 70s, ensures we have a facility here at Alberton Oval dedicated to our members and supporters where they can immerse themselves in the Club.
“When our people come to Port Adelaide, they don’t come into the administration or training building, they come to the ‘Footballers’ Club’. It’s where the Port Adelaide Football Club truly connects as a community.
“Our plans for the redevelopment were delayed due to the outbreak of COVID-19 but the delay has actually given us the opportunity to create a much better outcome.”
The inspiration behind the design is the industrial setting of the club’s heartland, Port Adelaide, with preserved original 160-year-old wharf pylons from the Port River to feature throughout the venue.
For the first time, all of the club’s silverware, including every one of the Club’s 37 Premiership trophies or shields, will be proudly displayed in what will be a grand entrance to the facility.
The interactive museum will transport visitors through various eras using technology, imagery and storytelling, including a theatrette where films and short videos can be shown.
The upstairs sports bar, dining room and meeting space can be accessed by a large central staircase which will draw people up to the magnificent views out over Alberton Oval, the city and the vista of the hills in the background, but also bring light into the retail and museum space downstairs.
The meeting space will cater for functions of up to 100 people in a formal setting.
“As you get to the top of the grand staircase, you’ll be greeted by the fantastic views but then we will open out the existing windows into an expanded deck area into the grandstand. It will be a fantastic place to enjoy a drink, a meal, watch the footy, watch training or just enjoy the view,” Mr Richardson said.
“The upgraded ‘footballers’ club’ will enhance our overall vision for Alberton Oval and how we see it evolving over the next few years to be hosting AFLW games during the summer months and also becoming a unique combination of broadened community sport and high performance.
“As our club embarks on its next 150 years, we see the Port Club as a place our people can connect and be truly proud of.”
Stage one of the redevelopment is being funded through the generosity of a number of passionate long-term supporters of the Club who have contributed through a series of fundraising initiatives over the last few years.
The fundraising for Stage two will commence shortly, and will include the opportunity for members to contribute through tax deductible donations.
It is anticipated works for Stage one will take approximately four to five months. In that time, the project can be scheduled so it does not interrupt the existing Port Store operations.
