First images and construction date revealed for Coburg City Oval

The heritage listed 94-year-old grandstand at Coburg City Oval is set for a stunning $6.65m redevelopment, which is set to change the face of one of the VFL’s most tired venues. Take a look at the first images and see when it will start.

A crowd at Coburg City Oval watches on as Coburg hosts Collingwood in 2018.

The Coburg Lions will hit the road for season 2020 as a long-awaited $6.65 million redevelopment of the heritage-listed grandstand at Coburg City Oval takes place.

The 1925 grandstand will be renovated from February and upgraded with new unisex change rooms, an umpires’ room, a new gym and rebuilt social rooms.

It is expected to take about 18 months.

The red brick of the grandstand is heritage listed and will be retained in the work to be overseen by Moreland Council.

A glass elevator will be installed to provide access to a 200-person function space with full length windows overlooking the action on the oval.

The glass elevator will link visitors to the top of the stand. Picture: Moreland Council

The council and State Government both chipped in $3 million to the project, with the AFL offering $500,000 and Cricket Victoria $175,000.

Coburg Football Club general manager Seb Spagnuolo said the club had been planning the refurbishment for more than a decade.

He said he was hopeful the ground could be in the running for VFL finals or marquee under-18 games after the works.

“The venue will allow us to compete with our rivals in terms of recruiting and player retention,” he said.

“It has been harder for us to recruit with what we’ve had compared to other clubs … but moving forward, to know it’s a venue we’re really proud of and can show that off, it will be great.”

Bench seating in the stand will be replaced with 250 individual seats

He said the works would also allow the club to launch an elite female program in 2021.

The ground is also home to the Coburg Cricket Club.

President Darren Scott said the club was excited about the opportunities the works would bring.

Moreland Council welcomed the investment from both the AFL and Cricket Victoria.

Change rooms and the social rooms will be rebuilt in the stand. Picture: Moreland Council

The upgrade has been a decade in the making. Picture: Moreland Council

Mayor Natalie Abboud said the renovations would allow increased disability access to open up the ground to users of all types.

Mr Spagnuolo said the football club would hit the road throughout the season next year, with plans to play home games in Preston, Craigieburn, Colac, Ballarat, Bendigo and Melton.

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Those fixtures won’t be confirmed until December.

“We see these games as a positive that will galvanise the group and create a closer bond for the players and coaches,” he said.

“We’re really excited to take VFL footy to regions that don’t see our level of footy anymore.”