Rushton Park Redevelopment to start in Feb 2010

The long awaited for Rushton Park (now official Bendigo Bank Stadium following a recent naming rights agreement) redevelopment will commence in 2010 with demolition tenders going out next week for the old stand. The 8 million dollar project will be the best in the WAFL. 

Russell Clark, CEO of Peel Thunder Football Club spoke to Austadiums.com on the redevelopment suggesting that the venues construction will be throughout the 2010 WAFL Season.

"Schematic drawings are due out next week. Concepts have all been finished. Tenders will be going out next week for demolition. Depending on tenders we expect it to take six weeks with construction starting in February".

The new development will substantially increase profits for Peel Thunder with 'out of football' revenue streams firmly established with new function rooms in what Clark expects will be the best facilities in the competition.

"I would expect ours (facilities) would be the best in the competition".

Clark suggests that the venues redevelopment will take 14-15 months.

"The facility is going to have 300 seats and will be able to be expanded in the next 15-20 years if needed". 

The profitability of Peel Thunder is another strong talking point, with Clark admitting that the club has a trading profit.

"The WAFC would want to make sure that we had made a profit this year. And it will be revealed at the AGM in December. But I would like to state that we have made a trading profit for the year".

Concerns over the existence of Peel Thunder in the competition hold no worry for Clarke.

"They can say what they like, a few other WAFL clubs will have some of their own trading issues this year...I know a couple of them have had a pretty tough year".