Artist impression of the Alberton Oval precinct redevelopment.

THE PORT ADELAIDE Football Club has unveiled its vision for the redevelopment of Alberton Oval, which includes basketball and soccer facilities for community use and changerooms to accommodate an AFLW team.

The vision was first presented to members at the club’s Annual General Meeting on Friday evening by Chief Executive Officer Matthew Richardson.

Mr Richardson said as part of the club’s strategic vision – CHASING GREATNESS – the re-development of the Alberton Oval precinct is a priority to ensure it provides the high-performance facilities for the Club’s men’s and women’s teams, is vibrant place of connection for our people and our community, whilst also helping meet the community sport needs for the western suburbs.

“Last year we revisited our priorities as a Club and this also meant re-thinking our vision for Alberton Oval to make sure it also focuses on the things that are absolutely most important to the football club and the local community.,” Mr Richardson explained.

“This is not just our home, it’s our community’s home,” Mr Richardson said of the precinct.

“(Our plan) is unique in that it also connects community sport in the western suburbs – a gateway to the Port and the community with expanded use – that includes junior basketball and soccer.

“We’re going to bring other community groups in to use the Alberton Oval precinct and open up this fantastic precinct.”

The redevelopment at Alberton Oval will feature a full size soccer pitch and two FIBA regulation basketball courts.

The broader redevelopment includes four stages;

  • Renovations of the Port Club, the spiritual home for our people, incorporating a museum and expanded retail.
  • Taking the Bob McLean sports bar and bistro upstairs at the Port Club to capitalise on the magnificent views over Alberton Oval, the city and Adelaide Hills.
  • Upgraded changerooms in the Williams Family Stand in readiness for AFLW at Alberton Oval.
  • An expansion of the high-performance facilities in the Allan Scott Headquarters to provide the space and quality needed to optimize the performance of our AFL, SANFL and future AFLW teams as well as the various Next Generation Academy programs.

The high-performance facility upgrade will include two basketball courts, which will be used by the West Adelaide Bearcats basketball club for more than 90 junior teams and a soccer pitch, as additional training space for our athletes, but importantly also used after hours for the rapidly expanding North West Junior Soccer Association.

Port Adelaide is aiming to enter the AFLW competition by 2023, so the upgrade of the precinct is strategically important to ensure it is ready for this expansion.

Stage 1 of the Port Club renovations are underway, and the club is hopeful of securing the final funding for Stage 2 by mid-year to ensure it can start as soon as possible.

An artist's impression of the proposed museum redevelopment at the Port Club.

As part of the upgrade, the Port Club will feature a club museum to help share the 150-year history of the Port Adelaide Football Club along with a fresh retail experience.

Plans are also underway to shift the Bob McLean sports bar and bistro upstairs and create meeting facilities overlooking the playing arena.

The club has council support, the planning and approvals process is underway and positive conversations are being held with all levels of government to secure the funding needed to make this exciting project a reality.