May 23, 2007
Showgrounds Redevelopment
Football (soccer) transformation begins:
Work has started to transform the Hobart Showgrounds from a racing venue to a new base for soccer in southern Tasmania.
After 25 years at the Glenorchy venue, the greyhound and harness racing tracks are being ripped up so the site can accommodate five soccer pitches.
The two racing codes have relocated to the nearby Elwick racetrack.
Phil Legrove from the Royal Agricultural Society says it’s the beginning of a new era for the Showgrounds.
“Racing has been a partner with us for 25 years,” he said, “but they have now moved across the road and so we’ve got new ideas for the Showgrounds.”
The society is also seeking a permit so up to 80 motor homes can be accommodated on the site.
ABC On-line
Whilst I appreciate the need for quality training areas for our state squads and for a home for our sport, I am still wondering what the plan is for KGV once this complex is ready for soccer to move in. Also is there room in a project like this for one of the clubs that doesnt have a home of their own to find one. FFT would get some income from the tenancy and another of our clubs would have a home venue to train and play at.
Comment by A whisper — May 23, 2007 @ 9:12 am
Doesn’t the Glenorchy city council own KGV and that FFT paid rent for its use?
Comment by 15Black — May 23, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
FFT own the building at KG V but lease land on which it is situate inclusive of access and a section of the carpark .
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The ground as far as I recall was subject to the usual annual renewal conditions.
Comment by Brian Roberts — May 23, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
To my understanding Dosa already use it for home games as a sort of favour to the council. I wonder once this redevelopment is finished that the favour will be returned???
Comment by the real BoB — May 23, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
In a way it is disappointing that they are developing five pitches on the area - instead of one larger one. It would be nice to have a small boutique stadium that could be used for bigger games.
Comment by Chuq — May 23, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
real BoB - FFT lease/rent the facility from the owners - Royal Agricultural Society Tasmania. FFT then charge home teams ground rental. DOSA have agreed for its home games to be played at the showgrounds and to assist with opening/closing etc. One would hope that the existence of this aarangement would lead to DOSA having first right of refusal once the facility is upgraded.
And talking of upgrading the track is being removed and being replaced by grass.
Comment by sj — May 23, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
DOSA a Div.1, Div1Res & a couple of social teams) have dibs on a five pitch complex?? I should hope not, certainly not sole rights anyway. I should think a few other teams might have to agree to have their games played at this venue too.
Comment by Blackjack — May 23, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
I think it will be a four pitch complex - to be used by development squads and others as usage limts will allow.
Comment by sj — May 23, 2007 @ 11:45 pm
So sj, is the field where the 5 squeezed in pitches will be, feature grass as well as where the track is?!
Comment by Ril — May 23, 2007 @ 11:56 pm
I find this whole thing wierd! The RAS and FFT sign a MOU last week, the dozers and graders go in today! Who’s paying??
There’s been no mention from the Tas. govt. of support, the FFT don’t have the dollars (I sincerely hope) and this project will cost more than putting a footy team in Launy!
Where on earth is the money coming from?
Comment by tasblue — May 23, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
no need to panic tasblue.
The pacing track creates huge dust problems and so putting grass there is a cost reduction excercise by RAS. Will have to wait and see just how well it is done.
Comment by sj — May 24, 2007 @ 8:54 am
Well Tasblue…looks like the press release was sitting on the desk top for a while before it got out, yes? Good question about the money too….I bet the RAS aren’t going to pay the bills. Perhaps someone from the FFT might like to let us know what the budget is and who is funding it. But of course that would mean giving information away and as we all know…knowledge is power. We did have that discussion about the annual report…I can remember some years ago that the then Soccer Tas had, from memory, around $350,000 in the bank and were talking about increasing the fees clubs paid them…so perhaps they do have the money by now.
sj I suppose that FFT are going to sub lease the ground at a non profit rate to home clubs…or is this another money maker for them.
Must be DOSA’s lucky day I guess.
I wonder when it will be ready for play…new surface and all that.
Comment by A whisper — May 24, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Just hope they get the surface right. I hear from players they pull up very sore from the surface. I know of a lot of injuries from juniors up.
It will be great to get another top class venue, however i hope that there is no penny pinching when it comes to making sure the playing surfaces are top level.
Comment by Peter Pearce — May 24, 2007 @ 10:36 am
Where will knights and zebras call home?
Comment by Rhodesy = Guus — May 25, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
If the race track is being removed and grass in its place, would it not make sense to position a quality surface in front of the grandstand, and if the RAS where agreeable and funding available a smaller stand at either end to close in a minimum of 3 sides.
Also I would disagree in part with Blackjack in that why shouldn’t DOSA if they are the team presently using the Showgrounds as their home ground not have first refusal on the use of the revamped facilities. Whether it meant they got a guarentee of only 1 pitch, surely if they had already commited to using and paying for the present playing surfaces, it would be pretty poor for some other team to get in front of them for use of a new improved facility just because DOSA aren’t a premier league team.
Comment by richard mac — May 26, 2007 @ 12:37 am