Western Bulldogs hope to play AFL matches at Whitten Oval under $150m redevelopment plan

[Eastdog]

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/western-bulldogs-hope-to-play-afl-

Western Bulldogs hope to play AFL matches at Whitten Oval under $150m redevelopment plan
May 1, 2019 9:09am
Michael Warner, EXCLUSIVEHerald Sun

[Eastdog]

Any woofers can get access?

[bornadog]

Any woofers can get access?

I am trying to but the WOOF site keeps coming up with 403 errors

[ratsmac]

Wow. Awesome news.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Any woofers can get access?

Nope.

[westdog54]

https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2019-05-02/bulldogs-complete-master-plan-for-whitten-oval-precinct

Very exciting if we can pull it together.

[angelopetraglia]

Love that we are thinking big with a grand vision.

If we can pull this off, it will ensure that our facilities are absolutely world class. It has to be a huge drawcard to attract players to our club, keep players at our club and set the tone of professionalism throughout every part of the club.

I love that our club is still at its spiritual home ground, unlike Hawthorn, Essendon, Collingwood etc

[Grantysghost]

From our website :

https://m.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2019-05-02/bulldogs-complete-master-plan-for-whitten-oval-precinct

Edit : Apologies already posted by westdog. Mods can delete I'm having issues (no delete option).

[Grantysghost]

Love that we are thinking big with a grand vision.

If we can pull this off, it will ensure that our facilities are absolutely world class. It has to be a huge drawcard to attract players to our club, keep players at our club and set the tone of professionalism throughout every part of the club.

I love that our club is still at its spiritual home ground, unlike Hawthorn, Essendon, Collingwood etc
I went to watch Melbourne train in 2017 as my mate is a massive fan and we were getting some signatures for his birthday. Where they train is nice - Goshs paddock however it doesn't feel like a "spiritual" home or give them an identity. All of their gear was in a moving van and players were getting changed in the back. Even big Max! Marry that with playing VFL at Casey and your point hits the mark regarding still being at Whitten Oval by contrast.

[Mofra]

This sounds like a huge dream but if anyone can get it done, it's Gordon.

Did anyone say election campaign?

[The Underdog]

https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2019-05-02/bulldogs-complete-master-plan-for-whitten-oval-precinct

Very exciting if we can pull it together.

I hope there’s a VERY solid business plan behind this. It’s the type of project that could be the making of the club, but could also be a long term disaster. I’m also not in love with the club constantly going to government for funding (to whatever extent) but that’s more of an issue with taxpayers money going into professional sports teams.

[bornadog]

I hope there’s a VERY solid business plan behind this. It’s the type of project that could be the making of the club, but could also be a long term disaster. I’m also not in love with the club constantly going to government for funding (to whatever extent) but that’s more of an issue with taxpayers money going into professional sports teams.

Part of what will fund this plan is the use of the parcel of land gifted to the club near the railway. You can see from the sketches some new apartments.

https://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/WesternBulldogs/Hero/2017_HERO/HEROStory_020519Masterplan.jpg

[angelopetraglia]

I hope there’s a VERY solid business plan behind this. It’s the type of project that could be the making of the club, but could also be a long term disaster. I’m also not in love with the club constantly going to government for funding (to whatever extent) but that’s more of an issue with taxpayers money going into professional sports teams.

There is always entrepreneurial risk. You could also argue that there is even more risk if we do nothing and fall behind all the other clubs.

World Class facilities that are open to the community is something that the Government should invest in. This is a shared resource, that includes facilities that everyone will use (e.g. Running Track). The Bulldogs have been an essential part of the community for 100+ years. The brand, the respect and reach to influence the community via the Community Foundation should not be understated. We can have a significant positive influence on the community. The Western Bulldogs are more than just a professional sports team. This isn't the USA model where the success of the club ultimately benefits some random billionaire.

[Axe Man]

I am trying to but the WOOF site keeps coming up with 403 errors

Same.

Not sure what that link is supposed to be either.

[Flamethrower]

If they want to be really proactive include a 1000 car underground carpark with EV charging stations for commuters using West Footscray station M-F, and sports fans on the weekend. Could be a nice little earner for the club.

[Mofra]

Frivolous question but how long is that running track? 1km?
It seems like a 'knee friendly' surface so I imagine that alone would get people to the precinct, a running session followed by lunch at Barkers.

[Grantysghost]

Part of what will fund this plan is the use of the parcel of land gifted to the club near the railway. You can see from the sketches some new apartments.

https://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/WesternBulldogs/Hero/2017_HERO/HEROStory_020519Masterplan.jpg

That's the exact business model of the new a-league franchise Western United. Granted land by Wyndham which they'll develop as housing / commercial and use profits to build new stadium at Tarneit or pay off debt secured by future sales .

[The Underdog]

There is always entrepreneurial risk. You could also argue that there is even more risk if we do nothing and fall behind all the other clubs.

World Class facilities that are open to the community is something that the Government should invest in. This is a shared resource, that includes facilities that everyone will use (e.g. Running Track). The Bulldogs have been an essential part of the community for 100+ years. The brand, the respect and reach to influence the community the via the Community Foundation should not be understated. We can have a significant positive influence on the community. The Western Bulldogs are more than just a professional sports team. This isn't the USA model where the success of the club ultimately benefits some random billionaire.

Agree on the first point, I’m ok with the risk, I just hope they’ve done the homework properly.

I also get the 2nd point, but I’m often sceptical of the “community benefits” angle used to justify the government funding aspect. It’s always brought out as a justification. I’m just not sure that the community benefits are often commensurate with the financial outlay. I’m all for community facilities, just not sure that this is how governments should fund them. Anyway, that is a personal viewpoint. Clubs will do what they gotta do. I also agree that we have set up some great community programs within the Western suburbs.
Yay Bulldogs.

[Twodogs]

Looks like it's game on for which ground is going to be the home of women's footy. Carlton had a ping at sneaking past us with their weatherbeaten old craphole of a stadium but hopefully this gets us the chocolates.

[Twodogs]

I hope there’s a VERY solid business plan behind this. It’s the type of project that could be the making of the club, but could also be a long term disaster. I’m also not in love with the club constantly going to government for funding (to whatever extent) but that’s more of an issue with taxpayers money going into professional sports teams.

But it isn't going to a sporting team per se. The Whitten Oval is a community facility that belongs to and is for the use of the people of the western suburbs. It just so happens that most of us who live around here are massive bulldog supporters and are happy to see the club get a benefit as well as the rest of us.


I hope you are right about the business plan though. This could easily go tits up without a project manager. who knows what they are doing and shares the vision.

[The Underdog]

But it isn't going to a sporting team per se. The Whitten Oval is a community facility that belongs to and is for the use of the people of the western suburbs. It just so happens that most of us who live around here are massive bulldog supporters and are happy to see the club get a benefit as well as the rest of us.


I hope you are right about the business plan though. This could easily go tits up without a project manager. who knows what they are doing and shares the vision.

Honest question because I don’t know, but what aspects of the facility currently are community based and available for use? (sorry if I’m taking the thread too far off topic, happy to leave it alone)

[Eastdog]

I’m very excited by this news. Hopefully it’s gets all approved. Would be more easier for our northern/south/east suburbs supporters to go to as well with it being only 5km our from the city and West Footscray station on the doorstep. Much closer than Ballarat for a lot of us.

[bornadog]

Honest question because I don’t know, but what aspects of the facility currently are community based and available for use? (sorry if I’m taking the thread too far off topic, happy to leave it alone)

There is a large building to the right of the John Gent stand which is used by the community for multiple different types of sports.


Victoria University Community Sports Stadium (external link) is the largest multi-sport stadium in the inner west.

Our four court, state-of-the-art facility includes:


first class flooring
international standard lighting
courts lined for basketball, futsal, netball, volleyball and badminton
onsite parking.
The stadium is part of the partnership between VU and Western Bulldogs.

Not sure how it gets incorporated into the new plan.

[bulldogtragic]

Sounds good, but I'll get excited once there's actually serious, serious money behind it. It's a good drawing though and I hope it comes off. The car park idea is a very good one, would've been nice to see it in there somewhere.

[ledge]

Just remember it’s not owned by the club it’s a public park owned by the council, the only way it can get upgraded Is by government money.
First thing I thought was where is the car park ? You need a 20,000 people ground you need some sort of parking , that’s why princess park will always have it over us.

[bornadog]

Just remember it’s not owned by the club it’s a public park owned by the council, the only way it can get upgraded Is by government money.
First thing I thought was where is the car park ? You need a 20,000 people ground you need some sort of parking , that’s why princess park will always have it over us.

Princes

[Eastdog]

The dream of getting AFL back at Whitten Oval is back but I don’t want to get to ahead of myself just yet.

[Twodogs]

Honest question because I don’t know, but what aspects of the facility currently are community based and available for use? (sorry if I’m taking the thread too far off topic, happy to leave it alone)

The community get access to an indoor sports centre down at the cross st end and a creche in the car park. You are quite right to suspect that the club benefits more than anyone from the investment but that's pretty much how we want it. Before the last redevelopment they weren't even supposed to put up a fence around the ground but the moment the VFL team came into existence all those rules changed.

[Sedat]

I hope there’s a VERY solid business plan behind this. It’s the type of project that could be the making of the club, but could also be a long term disaster. I’m also not in love with the club constantly going to government for funding (to whatever extent) but that’s more of an issue with taxpayers money going into professional sports teams.
The taxpayer has contributed well over $100m (in 5 separate stages no less) to fund that shithole tinshed down the highway, for no good reason other than it is located in the marginal electorate of Coragamite. With that in mind, I'm quite OK with our club lobbying for a much smaller portion of the govt purse for the redevelopment of the Kennel.

[HOSE B ROMERO]

“It will also involve a slightly re-oriented playing surface ..."
Hmm, maybe this would help our current predicament of players kicking points instead of goals.

[WBFC4FFC]

The taxpayer has contributed well over $100m (in 5 separate stages no less) to fund that shithole tinshed down the highway, for no good reason other than it is located in the marginal electorate of Coragamite. With that in mind, I'm quite OK with our club lobbying for a much smaller portion of the govt purse for the redevelopment of the Kennel.

And Coode Island has not moved down there for the same reason!