Club Chairman David Evans said today’s milestone marked a significant moment in the history of the Essendon Football Club.
“Our bold and exciting vision for the future of Essendon started as a pipe dream some two years ago but starting here today, it is fast becoming a reality,” Evans said.
“The high performance centre will provide our players and coaches with the professional environment they need to train, prepare and recover, while ensuring the Essendon Football Club remains a place people aspire to be involved with and a club where a continued culture of success drives everything we do.
“With 18 teams and free agency being introduced at the end of this year, this has never been more important. The new high performance centre will enable the club to attract and retain the best players, coaches and administrators to Essendon.”
To donate to the Flight Plan click here.
The facility will bring together an exciting new partnership between the Essendon Football Club and the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) who will base its Victorian headquarters at the new high performance facility.
“We are excited by the opportunities the new facility presents that will enable Essendon and the APC to work collaboratively to enhance the performance of our athletes while also delivering significant community benefits,” Evans said.
The new site is 18 kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD and approximately nine kilometres from Windy Hill. The land size is 100,000 square metres and allows for unprecedented future growth for the club delivering a multi-generational outcome.
The new facility will be the largest and most flexible training space in the AFL, with elite gym, medical, recovery and sport science facilities. It will also include two ovals – one the size of the MCG and one the size of Etihad Stadium.
The grounds will feature a professional running circuit around the facility with expansive gardens and community access and the club will continue to work with the state government to bring a new community sports and learning academy to life in the near future.
Evans thanked supporters who had donated towards the club’s Flight Plan fundraising initiative for the new facility with over $500,000 already pledged. Members wishing to donate can do so at http://www.theflightplan.com.au/.
The launch was attended by Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Financial Services and Superannuation Hon. Mr Bill Shorten, Australian Paralympic Committee President Greg Hartung and CEO Jason Hellwig, and Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff.
