$200,000 committed towards feasibility study for boutique Dandenong stadium

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The Victorian government has announced $100,000 in funding for a feasibility review for a proposed 15,000 seat boutique Dandenong stadium.
Artwork for Team 11s proposed stadium

The Victorian Government has announced $100,000 in funding for a feasibility review and development of a business case for a proposed 15,000 seat boutique Dandenong stadium. 

The City of Greater Dandenong has already pledged to match the contribution from the Andrews State Government for a total of $200,000, and will lead the project.

Cranbourne Star News reported earlier in the week that the Greater Dandenong Council was lobbying for $110 million to build a 15,000 seat stadium in the South East to host Melbourne City games in the future.

Along with a rectangular playing field and stadium, the project would include facilities for education, training, community outreach programs, and conferences. The funding will contribute towards identifying the scope and cost of the project, as well as ownership and management options. 

The money for the feasibility review and development of the business case is being funded from the Labor Government’s ongoing Revitalising Central Dandenong initiative.

Minister for Tourism, Sport, and major Events, Martin Pakula, explained that the announced funding was the first step in making a boutique stadium in Dandenong a reality.

“The development of a feasibility review and business case is an important step for the proposed Dandenong rectangular stadium,” he said.

“All stakeholders need to have full information at their disposal and that’s what this work will provide.”

Head of Government Relations & Facilities at Football Victoria, Sebastian Hassett, tweeted his support of the plan.

“The big football vision for Melbourne’s south-east is really taking shape now,” he wrote.

“The corridor between Caulfield, Cranbourne & Pakenham has an insatiable appetite for football. A stadium to call their own would be a game-changer.”

Local member for Dandenong Gabrielle Williams believes that Melbourne City’s relocation to the Dandenong area was a key reason for the development of the plan.

“Sport is booming in our local region, as evidenced by Melbourne City’s relocation to the southeast. It’s fantastic that we are moving to the feasibility review stage for the very exciting Dandenong stadium proposal,” she said.

The Victorian Government has announced a number of funding initiatives for football specific infrastructure this year, including funding for upgrades to National Premier League grounds and regional soccer fields.

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Western United ruled out of 2026–27 A-League season

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Image Credit: Western United FC

Western United’s participation in the A-Leagues has officially been terminated, ending the club’s immediate pathway back into Australia’s professional football competitions.

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) terminated Western United’s Club Participation Agreement on Monday, following months of discussions over the club’s future.

The decision comes after Western United’s attempt to secure a return to the A-League for the 2026–27 season was unsuccessful. Football Australia had previously determined that the club did not meet the requirements to retain its licence.

Western United has now turned its attention towards rebuilding the organisation under new ownership, with the club targeting a return to the A-League for the 2027–28 season.

In a statement, Western United said the termination creates an opportunity for “new custodians, new investment and a fresh start”, while emphasising the importance of maintaining the club’s identity in Melbourne’s west.

The club’s financial problems have been a major issue over the past two years with the club being placed into a conditional hibernation ahead of the 2025/26 A-League season.

The APL said its decision was made following the club’s breach of several obligations under the agreement, including compliance with Football Australia’s National Club Licensing Regulations.

The club’s proposed 2027–28 comeback will therefore depend on securing new investment, addressing its outstanding operational requirements and demonstrating that it can meet the conditions necessary to re-enter the A-Leagues.

While Monday’s decision brings an end to Western United’s current participation agreement, the club maintains that it is not the end for Western United.

Now, the club that won the A-League grand final just four years ago, will now turn its attention to restructuring the business and building a sustainable platform for a potential return to Australia’s professional football landscape.

 

 

Football Queensland Welcomes Musco Lighting as Official Lighting Partner

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Image Credit: Musco.com

Football Queensland has welcomed Musco Lighting as its Official Lighting Partner, bringing world-class sports lighting expertise to football clubs and facilities across the state.

The partnership will support Football Queensland clubs as participation continues to grow across the state, helping communities access safer, higher-quality and more accessible football facilities.

Musco Lighting is a global leader in sports lighting, with more than 50 years of experience delivering lighting solutions across sporting venues worldwide. The company was also the first in the world to be certified by FIFA as a Preferred Provider for Floodlight Systems and provided lighting for 12 of the 16 stadiums used at the recent FIFA World Cup.

Through the new partnership, Football Queensland clubs will have access to Musco’s specialist expertise and solutions as they look to improve and develop their lighting infrastructure.

Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci said the partnership represented an important step in supporting the continued growth of football across Queensland.

“I’m proud to see this partnership between Football Queensland and Musco come to life.

“With participation continuing to grow across Queensland, the need for quality football infrastructure has never been greater. This partnership will help our clubs access world-class lighting expertise to create safer, better and more accessible facilities for their communities.

The partnership provides an opportunity to combine Football Queensland’s extensive network across the state’s football community with Musco’s global expertise in sports lighting, supporting clubs as they continue to invest in facilities that meet the needs of their growing participation bases.

Football Queensland and Musco will work together to help clubs identify lighting solutions that can enhance facility quality and accessibility, supporting more opportunities for players and communities to participate in football.

Football Queensland Official Lighting Partner – Musco Lighting

With more than five decades of experience in sports lighting, Musco has delivered projects across some of the world’s most significant sporting venues and events.

The company’s FIFA Preferred Provider certification and involvement in the recent FIFA World Cup further demonstrates its expertise in delivering lighting systems to the highest international standards.

The partnership with Football Queensland will bring this expertise closer to Queensland’s football community, providing clubs with access to a specialist lighting partner as the game continues to grow across the state.

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