Wyndham City elite training facility ahead of new stadium
A new elite training facility for Western United, including grandstand seating for 5,000 spectators, will be built adjacent to the proposed future A-League stadium.
Announced on Friday, Wyndham City council and Western United will invest $25 million for the new facility, with construction to commence in early 2021 and be completed by early 2023.
The facility will include three rectangular pitches – two grass and one synthetic – with the main field to feature a 5,000-seat grandstand, hosting games for United’s future W-League and girls and boys Academy teams, and able to host other sports including rugby league and union. The venue is unlikely to host A-League games though.
The training facility was included in the A-League expansion club’s initial plans, announced back in June 2018, and while a timeline was announced for this development, it remains unclear when the 15,000-seat Wyndham City Stadium will be built.
“As well as being used for football, the facility can also be used for other rectangular sports like rugby league and union. Plans for this state-of-the-art facility also include a second grass pitch, and a third synthetic pitch that will primarily be open to the community” Wyndham City Mayor, Cr Josh Gilligan said.
“As we begin to approach the COVID-19 recovery phase, large projects like this amazing new sporting precinct will play a central role in ensuring our local economy bounces back, while creating more jobs and providing better community assets.”
The club currently trains at the City Vista Recreation Reserve in Caroline Springs and in its inaugural season played home games at GMHBA Stadium, Mars Stadium and one game at Whitten Oval.
Chairman of Western United Football Club Jason Sourasis said the announcement today is fantastic news for the Club.
“Building the Western United Football Club and growing the game of football in the west has always been the ambitious vision of all involved in the project,” Sourasis said.
“This partnership between Western Melbourne Group and the Wyndham City Council is a ground-breaking initiative in Australia – it’s built on effort, collaboration and building for the future, which are the values that we’ve built Western United on and the values that our fans share.”
“The training precinct is all about the growth of the sport, the ability for kids to train close to their A-League heroes, and for football in the west to have a strong pathway from junior football to the elite level – there’s more kids playing football than any other sport in this country so we’re really proud to be able to build this amazing facility for the kids of the west.
“Today’s announcement is the first of many to come that will start to bring our vision to life. We can’t wait to see our fans at Wyndham City Stadium in the near future.”
Sourasis also said the club has “spent in excess of $10 million on the planning application process so far, in addition to the near $20 million invested to secure our professional A-League licence”.
All on-site investigations including geotechnical, economic benefit, traffic, cultural heritage, flora and fauna, site services and infrastructure have been completed as required to develop a concept masterplan for the site, he added.
