Push for sports clubs to own stadiums
It has scored a cherished third Melbourne A-League licence. Now Western United has urged rival codes to follow a radical stadium strategy.
Wyndham Leader
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The boss of Melbourne’s new A-League soccer club says a bold vision to fund and build its own stadium and training grounds will set a new precedent for Australian sport.
Western United football director and former Socceroo Steve Horvat said his club had delivered a blueprint for sports to skip government red tape and urged other codes to follow suit.
“I think it’s not only a game changer for our sport but I think for all sport in this country,’’ he said.
“If this is a template that can be transferred, I think it’s an opportunity for sporting clubs and councils to work together.
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“In our code we get it because we see this model all around the world.’’
United will become Victoria’s third A-League team next season, playing home games in Geelong and other regional centres while it builds a new home in Melbourne’s west.
But it will tap into private funding to build its own 15,000-seat stadium and regional centre of excellence at Tarneit with construction expected to start in the second half of this year.
“It’s a massive undertaking but super exciting because I think it’s really important,’’ he said.
“As a club to be sustainable, you need to have your own facility … many of the sporting clubs in this country play in government stadiums and really struggle.
“So that was our philosophy from day one — it wasn’t just the A League licence it was the total package.’’
AFL, Big Bash, A-League, NBL, NRL and netball clubs now rely on tenant deals with the MCC, Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust and AFL-owned Marvel Stadium to play before fans.
Mr Horvat said Western United would trailblaze a new alternative, playing home games from October 2021 in a purpose-built venue it owned and operated.
“Government stadiums are built to be very multipurpose venues, they have to be — they have to serve the community and they have to serve all sports,’’ he said.
“Ours is a dedicated football stadium … outside of probably Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide it will be a first for the game in this country.
“And owning it we will be able to paint it and deliver it in our colours, in our branding.’’
He said the model replicated US sport, where many professional clubs own their stadium.
“We are not reinventing the wheel, we are just copying what has been working in a different continent and bringing it here,’’ he said.
He said the club chose to build its own facilities for “sustainability’’.
“We have potentially one A-League club which is profitable at the moment and that is on the back of having a huge history, great success and massive membership,’’ he said.
“So this is a model we believe will create a sustainable club, not just now but for the next 50 years.’’
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