Artist rendering of the proposed Dandenong Stadium.cox architecture
A decision on whether a new 15,000-seat stadium is built in Melbourne’s southeast "is expected within days," according to Rolfe & Cahill of the HERALD SUN. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews' government will meet Football Federation Australia this week to discuss whether the A$170M ($125M) stadium "would be home to Melbourne’s third A-League team." Government and FFA execs will discuss the merits of the venue, which would "also become an entertainment hub for the fast-growing region." A decision on whether the new venue is built next to Dandenong station "could hinge on how the FFA awards" one of two new A-League licenses for '19. Gov't spokesperson Ben McNair "would not say whether it had decided to help build the stadium." He said, "Victoria is the sporting capital of Australia and already home to the best two clubs in the A-league. We’ll continue to work with FFA on their plans to expand the competition." If FFA approves a bid for a southeast club currently known as Team 11 to play in the national league, the government "is expected to bankroll construction of the development." An economic study estimates it would generate A$114M ($83.7M) of annual economic output in southeast Melbourne, create 444 ongoing jobs and attract 465,000 people each year. Melbourne musicians "have backed the Team 11 bid, saying the state was crying out for a venue that size that could keep the city’s music scene pumping" (HERALD SUN, 12/4).
