School footy would have been played on Crows’ new training ground as part of halted North Adelaide relocation
School footy would have been played at the Adelaide Crows’ new training base in North Adelaide, with the club offering Blackfriars the sweetener to get its support for the now halted proposal.
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School footy would have been played at the Crows new training base in North Adelaide, with the club offering Blackfriars the sweetener to get their support for the now halted proposal.
The club withdrew its proposal for a $65 million training and administration complex on the site of the ageing Aquatic Centre in the North Adelaide parklands last week because of the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But before that the Crows had indicated to Blackfriars Priory School that they would be able to use their proposed new training ground for school footy games.
The school – which has a five-year lease on the ovals near the Aquatic Centre – was one of the key stakeholders the Crows had to convince to get the ambitious proposal over the line.
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In a submission to the Adelaide City Council, before the plans were withdrawn, the school said while it was concerned about losing oval space in the proposal the indication from the Crows was a big benefit from the proposal.
“The AFC have indicated that the school would be able to utilise the proposed AFL Oval for the school’s Australian Rules football games which is a major positive for the school as the oval proposed will be of an elite standard.”
Chair of the Blackfriars board David O’Loughlin, also the mayor of the nearby Prospect Council, told The Advertiser this would have been part of a “lasting relationship” between the school and the Crows.
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“That was always part of the early talks,” he said.
“It was subject to (the school) being able to find fields for cricket and soccer elsewhere but as was submitted to the council there is an opportunity to do that in Park 4 which fits in with their goal of making it a bit more of a sporting hub.
“So it was about building a lasting relationship between the school and the Crows.
“But all bets are off at this stage, it would have to be seriously on the backburner for the club.”
Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan wrote in a members update on Monday the club still plans “to revisit the opportunity at a later date should it remain a viable option”.
“We still consider our proposal to be compelling,” he wrote to members.
The Advertiser last week revealed that under the agreement for the $15 million Federal Government loan announced last year the Crows have until June 30, 2026 to complete the proposal.
O’Loughlin said he believed any renewed bid would have to be two-years away at least.
“I think it’s way, way down the line,” he said.
Under the Crows now halted proposal the building, which would have been within the existing footprint of the Aquatic Centre, would have been no higher than two storeys and separated into three integrated sections – a new aquatic centre, community building and training and administration building.
It also included an eight-lane, 50m pool, a children’s pool and splash area and unfenced ovals, where the Crows would train. Some land would have been returned to the Parklands.
Water Polo SA, Royal Life Saving South Australia and the Eastern Saints Water Polo Club also put in submissions supporting the proposal.