Michaela Meade
A $101.1 million state-of-the-art facility, which will become the home of the Matildas, will be built at La Trobe University’s Bundoora Sports Park.
The state government announced the funding at the weekend as part of the 2021-22 state budget, which will be handed down on Thursday.
The facility will also host Football Victoria’s high-performance program for young soccer players.
Grassroots clubs will have access to the pitches and community-level programs, including volunteers, administrators, referees and coaches training available on site.
The new facility will include a marquee pitch with grandstand seating and four other pitches.
It will also include high-performance facilities including a gymnasium, wet recovery area, medical and rehabilitation centre, meeting areas and player lounge.
The new home for the team will also incorporate the Victorian State Rugby Centre.
The centre will include a show pitch with grandstand seating, two additional pitches, along with a gymnasium, sport science, media and recovery areas and a training and match day home for the Melbourne Rebels’ Super W team.
Acting Premier James Merlino said: “We can’t wait to cheer on the Matildas at the World Cup in Melbourne in 2023 – and with this investment, we’ll give our female soccer stars a world class home in the heart of Melbourne.
“When we say we’re serious about improving the visibility of our female athletes – we mean it.
“Not only will this investment deliver new facilities, it will mean more young soccer fans get to see their heroes up close.”
Construction is set to begin in December this year, and be completed in time for the FIFA World Cup in July and August 2023.
