Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Port Adelaide to announce the Federal Government will contribute $15 million to the club's Alberton Oval precinct redevelopment.

The Port Adelaide Football Club welcomes the announcement from the Federal Government that it will contribute $15 million of funding towards the Alberton Oval precinct development.

The investment completes the $30 million funding model which will see Alberton Oval transform into a world-class recreation and sport precinct for Port Adelaide’s men’s and women’s football programs, community sporting organisations and passive recreation use.

The redevelopment of Alberton Oval is now fully funded thanks to this grant from the Federal Government with commitments from the State Government through the Office for Recreation and Sport, the AFL and the Club, thanks primarily to a number of incredibly generous benefactors.

Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson thanked the Morrison Government for their contribution.

“This is an historic day for the Port Adelaide Football Club and our community. Alberton Oval has been the home of the Port Adelaide Football Club since 1880 and our connection to the community is something we are extremely proud of. This investment and the transformation of the Alberton Oval precinct ensures our home and the home of our people will be entrenched at Alberton and in the Port Adelaide community, whilst we continue to grow and evolve as a club, as we have done for 151 years,” Mr Richardson said.

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“Alberton Oval will become a world-class training facility for our female and male athletes, be a social meeting place that our Members and supporters will be proud to call home, deliver invaluable opportunities for local community clubs and provide more green space for passive recreational use.

“The Port Adelaide Football Club thanks the Federal Government for their investment and is grateful for the support from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, South Australian Senator and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham and Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck.

“This redevelopment would not be possible without the Federal Government contribution and the support from the South Australian Government, the AFL and the Port Adelaide community.

“Ultimately, it’s the incredible support from our Members, partners and individual donors that has enabled us to be in this position. This cannot be forgotten. We are indebted to our community for their passion and support of the Port Adelaide Football Club.

“This investment is the final component in our redevelopment funding model meaning we can start with the next phase being the high performance centre and the precinct transformation.“Already phase one and phase two are well underway with the redevelopment of the Port Adelaide social club for our Members and supporters and the renovation of the Fos Williams Family Stand for our AFLW athletes. Both of these projects are expected to be completed by March next year. We can’t wait to welcome the Port Adelaide family back to Alberton Oval after two years of COVID forced separation.”

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the new precinct will ensure Alberton Oval continues to be the heart of the community and an inspiration for generations to come.

“As the Club song says, ‘it’s more than a sport’, and that’s what this redevelopment is all about,” the Prime Minister said.  

“Our $15 million investment will support Port Adelaide’s plans to redevelop Alberton Oval into a multi-use high performance and community sport precinct. 

“Importantly, our investment will ensure Alberton Oval will be match fit when Port Adelaide’s AFLW team debuts in late 2022.”

South Australian Senator and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said this investment would kick goals for the local community, particularly women’s football from the grassroots to the elite level.

“As a South Australian and avid footy fan, I am incredibly proud that from next year our state will have two AFLW teams in the national competition,” Minister Birmingham said.

“We are making sure that Port Adelaide has the best possible facilities to take the competition by storm and inspire more girls and women across SA to have a crack at footy.

“This is going to be a cutting-edge sporting hub for the Port Adelaide community to use and enjoy for decades to come as well as help to further boost participation in sport and football across all age levels and abilities.”

Members of Port Adelaide's Female Next Generation Academy speak with the Prime Minister about how the Alberton Oval precinct redevelopment will benefit the club's female football pathways.

Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said the investment at Alberton Oval would benefit the entire community.

“We understand more than ever the benefits of being able to participate in sport,” Minister Colbeck said.  

“Improved community sport facilities offer greater opportunity to improve our physical wellbeing and strengthen social connections.

“This has never been more important as we navigate our way through the impact of the pandemic on grassroots sport.”

Funding to upgrade the Alberton Oval precinct will help support:

  • the creation of a family-friendly AFLW match day venue
  • a new high performance centre, including:
    • a large indoor training facility incorporating two basketball courts for community use
    • two outdoor soccer pitches and a training field to support Port Adelaide’s AFL and AFLW programs as well as community junior soccer
    • AFLW standard changerooms and other amenities including expansion of the high performance gymnasium and administration offices
    • upgraded medical and rehabilitation facilities