Whitten Oval officially reopens following redevelopment

The Western Bulldogs have officially reopened their headquarters in the heart of Footscray at Whitten Oval, following its $78 million redevelopment.

After construction commenced on the final stage in March 2022, the training and administration base of the Bulldogs has been handed over in a landmark moment for the AFL club.

At the heart of the transformation is a brand new EJ Whitten Stand, which has been completely rebuilt to include 920 undercover red, white and blue seats, club museum, an 82-seat theatrette with a 10 square-metre video board, merchandise shop and administration facilities.

Named in honour of club legend Ted Whitten, Whitten Oval has been an iconic landmark in Footscray and home of the Bulldogs since 1883, with this redevelopment cementing its status as a premier venue while assisting the Bulldogs with their community programs that support people across the western suburbs and beyond.

The football department is now located at the Barkly Street end of the of the ground, which incorporates a 1800 square-metre indoor training field, what is believed to be the largest gym in the AFL, as well as a heat chamber, 15-person sauna, and cold and hot pools.

Then & Now 🥹

A lot has changed over the years at the Mission Whitten Oval. Come with us and take a look inside our redeveloped spiritual home in Footscray ❤️🤍💙 pic.twitter.com/SgSwvzyshP

— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) July 24, 2024

The project was backed by more than $46 million in funding from the Victorian State Government.

Stage One of the redevelopment was delivered in 2018 to support the club’s participation in the AFLW competition with the Western Bulldogs being one of the foundation clubs.

Western Bulldogs Football Club President Kylie Watson-Wheeler said, “For those of us who attended the 'Save the Bulldogs' rally here all those years ago, it would have been unbelievable to imagine what Mission Whitten Oval would become.”

“We’re proud to provide such an important point of connection for our fans and our neighbours in one of the most dynamic and diverse regions in Victoria with this state-of-the-art venue.”

The Western Bulldogs' AFLW team will host four home games at Mission Whitten Oval later this year, plus two other night fixtures between North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, and Essendon and Sydney in September and October.

Pre-season AFL games will also be held at the new facility in future.