Evans said the club had an exciting and bold vision for the future – to create the best training and community facilities of any team in Australia – and called on support of the Essendon faithful to help fund $5 million of the total project cost.
“The vision for the Club starts with new bricks and mortar but it is so much more – it’s a vision for the Club to remain a place where people aspire to be and a Club where a continued culture of success drives everything we do,” Chairman David Evans said.
“This is the time for the Essendon Football Club to take the next step to stay ahead of its competitors. With free agency and 18 teams imminent, the new facility at Melbourne Airport will enable us to attract and retain the best players, coaches and administrators to Essendon.”
The projected cost to secure the generational outcome for the Club is $30 million. The Club has a comprehensive fundraising strategy to ensure the success of the project with funding sought from the Federal and State governments as well as the AFL.
Evans said the project will also require a substantial investment from the club and a commitment from its supporters.
“A project of this size is a long-term investment and collectively the Club will invest $15 million into its success,” Evans said.
“We need our members to play an active role in arguably the most tangible way possible – a contribution towards our groundbreaking Melbourne Airport project.”
Click here to view theflightplan.com.au.
With land measuring over 100,000sqm – more than double the footprint of Windy Hill – the new precinct allows for unprecedented future growth and delivers a multi-generational outcome for the club.
The new facility will deliver one of the largest and most flexible training spaces in the AFL with two AFL-sized ovals, vast indoor training spaces and elite gymnasium, medical, recovery and sports science facilities.
“If we want to be the best, we must lead the competition in all aspects of the game. We must give our players the best facilities in the AFL to enable them to prepare, train and recover in a professional environment every day they go to work,” Coach James Hird said.
Located on Melrose Drive, the new site is 3km from the Melbourne Airport terminal, less than 10km from Windy Hill and 18km from the Melbourne CBD.
The new facility will also be a significant community hub for Essendon supporters and the local community.
“Essendon has always endeavoured to strengthen communities through sport and this commitment will continue through the new facility as well as at our spiritual home, Windy Hill,” Chairman David Evans said.
Construction at the precinct is scheduled to begin in November 2011. The Bombers will land at the new training base at Melbourne Airport in early 2013.
The new facility at Melbourne Airport is also the cornerstone of an exciting new partnership between Essendon Football Club and the Australian Paralympic Committee.
Click here to view theflightplan.com.au – a website dedicated to tracking the flight plan from Windy Hill to Melbourne Airport.
