Whitten Oval Redevelopment Plans (UPDATE: No AFL Games)

[Roogal]

Should be 25k capacity not 18k. We get more than 20k vs low drawing teams, and the nostalgic factor will see enough wanting to attend, that we will be forced to turn people away. Geelong spent similar and got their stadium up to around 40. Would only be worth the $150 million dollar spend if the money is made up for in a short period and the area makes profit and benefits the club and community in many ways. Wouldn't mind seeing the ground made slightly wider dimension wise, allow for more free flowing, entertaining and attacking football.

The total cost invested at Kardinia Park is actually closer to $350 million since 2007. That's what it costs to develop a Tier 1 40k capacity venue complete with corporate boxes and suites, museum, social club lounges, gymnasium, food and beverage courts, undercover entrances, dual scoreboards and broadcast quality lighting. If Geelong was just another suburb of Melbourne it would never have gotten that degree of investment. But the main catalyst behind Kardinia Park's redevelopment was the loss of major manufacturing in the early 2000s and the government subsequently committing large sums of money on projects that would promote events and tourism in the area. Otherwise KP would have perhaps received grants for replacement of one or two of its older stands and less elaborate lighting.

 

[Roogal]

Is repairing the pothole in the car park part of this plan? Or do we need to lobby the government separately for that?

You have to be careful, that pothole may be heritage listed.

 

[Roogal]

Perhaps because Footscray has it's own agency working on the virus - this mystery machine is about 100 metres north of the WO in Gordon St....

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I love this person. Damn CCP ... Nothing to see here in glorious Communist China, everything is just Jim Dandy. Just ask us and we'll tell you.

 

[Roogal]

The 4th and final new broadcast quality light tower was installed at Princes Park today. These light towers are the same type that will be installed at Whitten Oval soon.

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Surprised that they are using the inferior and more expensive to operate Metal Halide light units. MH is 25% less bright and creates a warmer light than the equivalent LEDs which are brighter and generate a white daylight effect. It seems that they are using 280 MH units to do what 216 LEDs could do. They don't need new light towers at Whitten Oval. Just put in an additional two light towers based on the design of the four existing 37m towers and mount 36 LEDs into each tower. You would get better light distribution and save a couple of mil in costs not to mention much cheaper operating costs.

If it escaped anybody's notice, at the MCG at the start of 2020 they replaced all of the lights in the towers there with LEDs and there are significantly less light units now per tower

 

[Oliver G]

Surprised that they are using the inferior and more expensive to operate Metal Halide light units. MH is 25% less bright and creates a warmer light than the equivalent LEDs which are brighter and generate a white daylight effect. It seems that they are using 280 MH units to do what 216 LEDs could do. They don't need new light towers at Whitten Oval. Just put in an additional two light towers based on the design of the four existing 37m towers and mount 36 LEDs into each tower. You would get better light distribution and save a couple of mil in costs not to mention much cheaper operating costs.

If it escaped anybody's notice, at the MCG at the start of 2020 they replaced all of the lights in the towers there with LEDs and there are significantly less light units now per tower

The new light towers at the Whitten Oval will be LED...




Full lighting details can be found on pages 209-260 in the below PDF...

 

[Oliver G]

After years of planning we are now only weeks away from having the WO redevelopment underway. Demolition/construction is set to begin in the last week of Jan and last approx 18-20 months in time for the 2023-24 AFLW season and our 100th season in the V/AFL in 2024.

 

[The Victorian]

How come there is such a big gap between the goals and the fence on the left hand side? Why don’t they move the fence in? It would allow more crowds after all

 

[MYOB]

How come there is such a big gap between the goals and the fence on the left hand side? Why don’t they move the fence in? It would allow more crowds after all

It is so the dimensions of the ground match that of Marvel.

The crowd (cheer squad) is normally allowed on the ground, but haven't been since Covid

 

[The Victorian]

It is so the dimensions of the ground match that of Marvel.

The crowd (cheer squad) is normally allowed on the ground, but haven't been since Covid

Yeah but do they ever move the goals or keep them where they are? If they don’t why don’t they bring the fence in permanently

 

[Oliver G]

How come there is such a big gap between the goals and the fence on the left hand side? Why don’t they move the fence in? It would allow more crowds after all

The gap is there because we are building an indoor field at that end. So once the redevelopment is done the gap won't be as big.

 

[The Victorian]

Went to the ground today and it actually wasn't too bad of a place to watch footy. This new redevelopment will be awesome. Do we have an updated timeframe? Will it be ready for AFLW 2022/23 or more likely looking at AFLW 2023/24?

 

[MYOB]

Went to the ground today and it actually wasn't too bad of a place to watch footy. This new redevelopment will be awesome. Do we have an updated timeframe? Will it be ready for AFLW 2022/23 or more likely looking at AFLW 2023/24?

It's a great ground for AFLW. I really enjoyed seeing your girls win today. A great come back.

 

[Vikingnz]

NIMBYs going ballistic about this (as is probably to be expected) - apparently when WO was closed in 2020 people didn't have ANYWHERE near by to walk, push a pram, or even breathe??

 

[Oliver G]

Went to the ground today and it actually wasn't too bad of a place to watch footy. This new redevelopment will be awesome. Do we have an updated timeframe? Will it be ready for AFLW 2022/23 or more likely looking at AFLW 2023/24?

Five posts above yours but here it is again plus a bit extra...

Demolition/construction is set to begin in the last week of Jan and last approx 18-20 months in time for the 2023-24 AFLW season and our 100th season in the V/AFL in 2024.

The Whitten stand is already partially blocked off and also due to its current state. There won't be too much disruption for the current AFLW season but next season will certainly be impacted with crowds likely only on the southern and eastern sides.

Cannot wait.

 

[MYOB]

So is Tuesday night's game the last one before they start pulling down the Whitten Stand.

 

[cecil]

The 2026 commonwealth games bid could be good for our redevelopment. Surely the ground is in the boxseat for some events?

 

[Oliver G]

So is Tuesday night's game the last one before they start pulling down the Whitten Stand.

The redevelopment officially starts tomorrow with the builders taking over and demolition of the Whitten stand will begin in the coming weeks.

Tuesday night will be the last match that any crowd will be allowed to sit in the stand.

 

[The Victorian]

The 2026 commonwealth games bid could be good for our redevelopment. Surely the ground is in the boxseat for some events?

Doubt it. What events you think it’ll hold?

 

[footscray1973]

Doubt it. What events you think it’ll hold?

Mud-wrestling, Trugo, exhibition of sh1t AFLW umpiring.

 

[VitalDread]

Would love to be able to get a cutout of my chair in the stand

Hopefully the club provides a couple of options for those that have seats in it

 

[MYOB]

A letter from the CEO: Redevelopment update

Chief Executive Officer Ameet Bains has penned an open letter to Bulldogs members and fans.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

 

[Oliver G]

Would love to be able to get a cutout of my chair in the stand

Hopefully the club provides a couple of options for those that have seats in it

Will be disappointing if that don't but probably best to contact the club sooner rather than later.

Also for those wondering the giant EJ Whitten Stand letters are being kept.

 

[MYOB]

Will be disappointing if that don't but probably best to contact the club sooner rather than later.

Also for those wondering the giant EJ Whitten Stand letters are being kept.

The message from Ameet Bains above says the club will be contacting the owners of the seats

 

[Roogal]

The new light towers at the Whitten Oval will be LED...

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Full lighting details can be found on pages 209-260 in the below PDF...

Interestingly, now that the Ballarat Council have scoped the costs involved with the new light towers at Ikon Oval, Whitten Oval and at North Port Oval (Port Melbourne), they have lodged a request through various State and Federal politicians and candidates at the forthcoming elections to fund $3.5 mil to replace the existing four 37m MH towers with four new 45m LED towers at Mars Stadium. Of course if Victoria gives the nod to host the Comm Games then it's highly likely that Mars Stadium will get the new lights and anything else that the Ballarat Council requests (But that's speculation anyway). That said, the image below shows what North Port Oval are getting to achieve broadcast standard lighting. The towers proposed there will place the posts at the boundary fence and have the lights directly projecting light onto the oval:

 

[The Victorian]

Interestingly, now that the Ballarat Council have scoped the costs involved with the new light towers at Ikon Oval, Whitten Oval and at North Port Oval (Port Melbourne), they have lodged a request through various State and Federal politicians and candidates at the forthcoming elections to fund $3.5 mil to replace the existing four 37m MH towers with four new 45m LED towers at Mars Stadium. Of course if Victoria gives the nod to host the Comm Games then it's highly likely that Mars Stadium will get the new lights and anything else that the Ballarat Council requests (But that's speculation anyway). That said, the image below shows what North Port Oval are getting to achieve broadcast standard lighting. The towers proposed there will place the posts at the boundary fence and have the lights directly projecting light onto the oval:

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Again though, what events would mars stadium host? I can’t think of any