Western Australia’s new $45.96 million State Football Centre is on track to be completed in time for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July, Sport and Recreation Minister, David Templeman, said today.
With just four months until kick off, the WA Government today announced that the facility will be vested with the State Government’s venue management agency, VenuesWest.
“Western Australia has a thriving football community, and the development of facilities like these provide incredible opportunities for more people to get involved in grassroots sport,” said Minister Templeman.
“The collaboration between VenuesWest and Football West will provide a unique opportunity for football in Western Australia and enable development of the sport from grassroots programs to high performance teams.”
The Centre is located on a 16 hectare site in Queens Park and includes a two-storey building with a grandstand, two competition pitches and training pitches, on-site parking, and three 5-a-side playing pitches.
The build has been jointly funded by the State and Commonwealth Governments, with $29 million being provided by the WA Government.
The vestment of the State Football Centre with VenuesWest, brings the number of venues in their portfolio to 14, with this venue the first to be solely dedicated to the ‘beautiful game’.
Football West will manage the day-to-day running of the venue, including the management of commercial sponsorships. VenuesWest will own the asset on behalf of the State Government and assist Football West through the co-management agreement and oversee ongoing maintenance of the asset.
The arrangement means that Football West now has a space in the State that the sport can call ‘home’.
International and A-League football matches will continue to be held at HBF Park or Optus Stadium, with occasional lower-capacity special events to be held at the State Football Centre.
The State Football Centre is expected to be one of two venue specific training sites used by teams competing in the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
