Players, fans rejoice as Gardens Oval lights set to switch on ahead of historic Friday night clash

FRIDAY night lights will take on new meaning in Darwin tomorrow with the iconic Gardens Oval set to host its first ever NTFL night game on the ground

FRIDAY night lights will take on new meaning in Darwin tomorrow with the iconic Gardens Oval set to host the first ever NTFL night game on the ground.

Gardens Oval will host its first ever NTFL game under lights with the joint NT government and Darwin council project now officially finalised.

Players from the Banks Bulldogs and Tiwi Bombers train under the new lights at Gardens Oval. Picture: Will Zwar

Sports Minister Kate Worden said the installation meant matches could now be held during cooler periods of the day, reducing the impact of heat on players and spectators, particularly during the wet season.

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“Darwin is the best place in Australia to be involved in sports, but it’s also one of the hottest, so our investment in lights will see more games and training take place in the cooler evenings,” she said.

“Gardens Oval has been an important home for sports in Darwin since footy matches were first played there in the 1950s.”

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The Gardens Oval lights are part of a $7 million suburban oval lighting project.