The ‘Team 11’ group seeking to bring an expansion franchise in Australian club football’s A-League to south-east Melbourne have unveiled plans for a new stadium that would house up to 15,000 fans.
Designed by Cox Architecture, Dandenong Stadium will have a minimum capacity of 12,000, with the potential to expand to 20,000 seats in the future.
The site, less than 100m walk from one of the state of Victoria’s busiest train and bus stations and within five kilometres of the Monash Freeway and EastLink, has been chosen to provide for easy access from all corners of Victoria’s south-east.
“This is a game-changer for the city of Dandenong and for the south-east of Victoria,” Gerry Ryan, the founder and owner of Jayco Caravans and part of Team 11, said.
“We want to provide our children – and all members of our culturally diverse community – a cause they can unite behind, be inspired by and feel connected to. A football team playing out of a venue such as this would do just that.
“To also have community and education programs running from the stadium in partnership with local tertiary, training and not-for-profit organisations would ensure our residents benefit significantly from this development.”
Team 11 said various funding options for the stadium build are being explored, with Development Victoria, Ernst and Young, Cox Architecture and Greater Dandenong Council working together on development plans for the site.
The stadium build is predicated on Team 11 being admitted into the A-League. In March, Football Federation Australia (FFA) formally commenced a process to add two new clubs to the A-League from the 2019-20 season and a decision on the new teams is set to be made on October 31.
The A-League has comprised 10 teams since the addition of the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2012, and Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are reported to be the leading contenders for the new clubs.
Greater Dandenong Councillor and Team 11 steering committee member, Jim Memeti, added: “With Greater Dandenong being the most multicultural municipality in Australia, football is the No.1 sport of choice for our residents and so it is fitting that a rectangular venue would sit pride of place in the heart of our Central Business District.
“But this stadium is not just about the creation of what can be an enormous football club, this will be a prized asset for our region, catering for a wide range of sporting events, multicultural festivals, concerts and functions.”
Image: Cox Architecture
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