Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility
| Morshead Park | |
| Location |
Morshead Park, Redan, Ballarat, Victoria |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°34′47.2″S 143°50′03.6″E / 37.579778°S 143.834333°ECoordinates: 37°34′47.2″S 143°50′03.6″E / 37.579778°S 143.834333°E |
| Owner | City of Ballarat |
| Capacity |
6,000 (Venue Capacity) 550 (Seated Capacity) Up to 12,000 with temporary stands[1] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2014 |
| Construction cost | $5.35 million[2] |
| Architect | k20 Architecture[3] |
| Tenants | |
| Ballarat Red Devils | |
The Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility, also referred to by its location as Morshead Park, is a soccer-specific stadium in Redan, a suburb immediately to the south of central Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. It is the home of the Ballarat Red Devils, who play in the National Premier Leagues Victoria, the second tier of Australian football, after the A-League.
Construction
During 2013, the City of Ballarat Council matched a Federal Government investment of $2.675 million announced by then Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard in June of that year[1] in a major upgrade of Morshead Park with a view to host training for National Teams in the 2015 Asian Cup, including new grandstands, lights and returfing the field to form the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility.[3][4]
The main grandstand seats 2000, with an additional standing capacity for a further 4000 on viewing embankments. There is space for temporary stands to be erected across from the main grandstand to bring the total capacity up to 12,000.[1]
Aside from the main pitch, there are two further fully lit football fields adjacent.[5] In total, the facility adds 3,000 pitch hours of availability annually to local clubs.[2]
Tenants
The Ballarat Red Devils played their first game in the stadium on the 3rd of May 2014, losing 1-2 to South Melbourne FC in the NPLV, although the main grandstand was not yet fully complete. South Melbourne player Milos Lujic scored the inaugural goal in the facility.[6]
On the 9th of May 2014, Premier of Victoria Denis Napthine announced that the facility would be hosting the Bahrain national football team for a sixteen day training camp prior to the Asian Cup.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility works on track for 2015 Asian Cup Ballarat Courier
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Project Fact Sheet Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility, Morshead Park K20 Architecture.
- ↑ Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility City of Ballarat.
- ↑ Light towers being installed at Morshead Park City of Ballarat
- ↑ Unstoppable South Downs Ballarat Football Federation Victoria
- ↑ Ballarat to host Bahrain soccer team for Asian Cup Ballarat Courier