Sydney Showring Oval redevelopment plans

Article posted by Coliseum, March 20^th, 2023

Image: Crawford Architects

The Australian Football League (AFL) is partnering with the New South Wales (NSW) Government to redevelop Showring Oval at Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park (Australia).

‘sydneyswans.com.au’ stated that the Government has confirmed a $15 million contribution to the project, which will provide a state-of-the-art home for the local community teams and schools, talent pathways and women’s football.

Melbourne (Australia)-based the Australian Football League (AFL) is a company operating the premier and only fully professional competition of Australian Rules football and the AFL Women’s and other competitions. It was originally named the Victorian Football League (VFL) and was founded in 1896 as a breakaway competition from the Victorian Football Association (VFA), with its inaugural season in 1897. It changed its name to Australian Football League in 1990 after expanding its competition to other Australian States in the 1980s. The AFL publishes its Laws of Australian football, which are used, with variations, by other Australian football organizations.

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The Showring is the heart of the Entertainment Quarter. Once home to the Royal Easter Show, this 15,000 sqm oval can be used in many different ways. Whether one is looking to utilize the whole space or just a section, one’s needs can be tailored. Cafés and restaurants surround this space.

The Government has made a groundbreaking $15 million contribution to redevelop Showring Oval at Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park. When complete, the Showring Oval will be the new focal point for women’s sport in NSW, providing a state-of-the-art home for the local community teams and schools, talent pathways and the Sydney Swans’ Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW) program.

The Entertainment Quarter is an iconic entertainment, leisure and retail precinct located in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Home to cinemas, restaurants, bars and retail shops, surrounding an exceptional outdoor performance and event space, The Showring – home of The Entertainment Quarter Village Markets.

AFL Women’s is Australia’s national semi-professional Australian Rules football league for female players. The first season of the league in February and March 2017 had eight teams. The league expanded to 10 teams in the 2019 season, 14 teams in 2020 and 18 teams in 2022.

‘sydneyswans.com.au’ further stated that the redevelopment will create the first full-size, multisport hybrid turf oval with running track and broadcast lighting in Australia and will cater to more than 4,000 spectators.

The AFL has partnered with the National Rugby League (NRL) team Sydney Roosters on the Showring proposal and, as co-funding partners, both codes will be able to call the $32 million facility home.

Both sporting codes have a rich history at the site, with the Showring being the inaugural home ground for the Roosters from 1908 to 1930. AFL Sydney hosted finals at the venue until 1980 and the Sydney Swans used the venue for training and practice matches in the mid-1980s through to the early 1990s.

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