Alberton Oval capacity to be increased after receiving $17 million in funding
Government funding for Port Adelaide’s home at Alberton Oval could see it emerge as a future venue for Gather Round fixtures, as the Power look to cash in on their impressive AFLW crowds.
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Alberton Oval could emerge as a future Gather Round venue with Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson saying new State Government funding could have the venue’s capacity at up to 18,000 for “major events”.
The Power announced on Tuesday that $17 million of State Government funding will allow it to further increase the seating capacity at Alberton Oval as part of the club’s fourth stage of redeveloping the ground and the surrounding precinct.
Port last year revealed its plans to erect a third grandstand on the ground, where the Port Adelaide Bowling Club currently sits by slightly shifting the bowling green to the south of the precinct, which will also feature education, conference and STEM learning spaces.
The Power also said it would consolidate its AFLW player changeroom and coaching administration facilities into the MG High Performance Centre – where the AFL’s ones currently are.
As part of Tuesday’s announcement, the Power said the $17m grant – over four years – would also now feature the installation of terraced seating around the eastern boundary fence at Alberton Oval.
The extra 1500 terraced seats are part of the Power’s plans to grow AFLW games at Alberton Oval, after the club had the second highest attendances in the competition in 2024.
But this could lead to even bigger events at Alberton once the fourth stage of redevelopment is fully finished.
“The increased seating capacity in the first stage of around 1500 and overall our seated capacity will be increased to around 7500 with total capacity aimed at 12,000,” Richardson said.
“But with the flexibility that we have on the eastern side with the carparks we could bring in big temporary stands so for major events we could get up to 15,000 to 18,000 here at Alberton in the future.
“Our vision was for Alberton Oval to be the best boutique AFL/AFLW venue in the country and I think we saw with the growth of AFLW games here last season our last two games here we had 5000 people.
“The importance of being able to provide those kids and families in particular with more seats is a priority for us next year as we look to continue to grow AFLW in particular but also with the AFL program there are more opportunities with pre-season matches, Gather Round in the future there are those opportunities.
“The main thing is that at Alberton Oval we will have the changeroom facilities that are elite and world class, we can move up and down in capacity and ensure the matchday experience at Alberton Oval is the best in the country.
“It (Gather Round) certainly is something for the future, I think once we get all of the redevelopment finished.
“The great thing about Alberton Oval is the playing surface is exactly the same size as Adelaide Oval and there are no facilities that need to be brought in.
“So it would certainly be a goal for the future for Alberton Oval to be used in that opportunity.” Construction on the terraced seating on the eastern side and the AFLW changeroom and coaching admin facilities being integrated into the MG High Performance Centre will begin this year.
Planning for the third grandstand on the bowling club site is set to commence in 2026.
With the success of Gather Round, and the push for it to be permanently in South Australia, other suburban grounds have tried to get AFL games at their respective venues.
Norwood Oval has hosted four games across the first two years of the festival of footy and have had sold out crowds of over 9000 in each of them.
North Adelaide has thrown its hat into the ring to host games at Prospect Oval, while Glenelg has been keen to talk to the AFL about its chances to bring a match to the Bay.
Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee said it would be special for Alberton Oval to get some Gather Round action.
“To be able to play a (AFL) game here where the Magpies have played would be really special,” he said.
Mount Barker has also hosted Gather Round games but this year SA premier Peter Malinauskas will finally get his wish of games in the Barossa Valley when North Melbourne takes on Gold Coast and Richmond and Fremantle face off in Lyndoch.
Originally published as Alberton Oval capacity to be increased after receiving $17 million in funding
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