North Adelaide FC chief says Prospect council’s plan to upgrade oval into sporting precinct opens up AFL matches

The CEO of a top SANFL club says a “once-in-a-generation” upgrade of their tired-looking home ground would open it up for AFL matches.

A massive upgrade to Prospect Oval would turn it into a “once-in-a-generation” precinct. Picture: David Mariuz

The CEO of the North Adelaide Football Club says a proposed “once-in-a-generation” revamp of its home ground would allow it to seek hosting duties for a Gather Round match.

A “once-in-a-generation” redevelopment involving one of Adelaide’s top football ovals would “open up everything” for its SANFL club, whose CEO is looking to host an AFL game during Gather Round in the future.

Prospect Council has started community consultation for a huge transformation of Prospect Oval and surrounds into a quality health, wellness, fitness and sporting precinct – to be known as the Prospect Lifestyle Precinct.

North Adelaide Football Club chief Craig Burton said working closely with council “had been fantastic”, and was hopeful the masterplan would include an upgrade to the oval’s lighting.

“The oval really needs a lift, both from the aesthetics and a safety point of view,” Mr Burton said.

“If you go for a walk around the perimeter, the old concrete mounds are starting to wilt away and it’s just not a great look compared to a lot of grounds around the place that have been redeveloped.

Taylor Adams with fans during the Sydney Swans captains run at Prospect Oval on April 5, 2024 ahead their AFL Gather Round match against the Eagles in Mount Barker. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

“We really want to host an AFL game, whether that’s in this current contract of Gather Round or if there’s an extension,” Mr Burton said.

“The key thing that’s holding us back – apart from a bit better-quality changerooms, which will hopefully come out of this masterplan – is lighting. It’s our number one project, and to be able to have broadcast-quality lights is quite an expensive investment so we’re seeking funds from all avenues.

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“Lighting will just open everything up, and especially if we’ve got the best-looking precinct in SA – or Australia – then it would be disappointing if we couldn’t actually show that off with night games.”

The precinct currently houses the North Adelaide football and croquet clubs, Prospect tennis and district cricket clubs and other local teams.

Consultation started after council last year entered a contract to acquire an $8.3m, 5522 sqm premises adjoining the oval at 142-148 Main North Rd.

Mayor Matt Larwood said council was committed to addressing the “community’s core needs”, and hoped to have key aspects of the development agreed on within the next 12 months with construction to begin in the 2026 financial year.

Roosters players run onto the field during the Round 4 SANFL match between North Adelaide and Woodville West Torrens at Prospect Oval. Picture: David Mariuz

“The acquisition of this land is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our city,” Mr Larwood said. “The opportunity to purchase this piece of land – which butts right up against the eastern side of Prospect Oval – really opened up a whole lot of potential opportunities that didn’t exist before.

“In my personal opinion, we invest heavily in our open, green spaces in the city of Prospect, but we haven’t invested as much in that (sports and lifestyle) environment as I think we could have. This now gives us an opportunity to really get a solid plan in place and to deliver an outcome which achieves the most value for the community.

“We’ve set aside significant funds in this year’s budget and we’ll set aside significant funds in next year’s budget to undertake this work.

“I would like to hope that by the end of this two-year period, we’re well through the overall masterplanning. I guess I’m a little bit hopeful, but I’d like to see that by the 2026/27 financial year, the shovel hit the ground and work get underway.”

Community consultation is open until August 30.