Pittwater RSL FC welcome game-changing LED light upgrade at Kitchener Park

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Pittwater RSL FC lighting upgrade
Image credit: Football NSW

Pittwater RSL FC have announced the completion of their fantastic new state-of-the-art LED lighting system at their home ground Kitchener Park.

The club have reaped the rewards of the NSW Football Legacy Fund as their latest project with the Northern Beaches Council securing the maximum contribution of $150,000 in Round 1 of the Legacy Fund earlier this year.

The installation of six new light poles with efficient LED lights means the lights are now up to current Australian Standards for soccer which is a huge milestone.

The lights are centrally controlled allowing users to switch to a training mode which reduces the energy output. This creates a training environment that increases safety and security as well as the club now being able to host night games, a privilege absent for numerous years.

Ben Collock, President of Pittwater RSL FC, expressed his delight at the opportunities this brings for the club in the future in Football NSW’s press release.

“We can now play night games for the first time in this clubs history,” he said.

“The first night game we played was the women’s premier league, which had a great attendance and was really exciting.”

Pittwater RSL FC are anticipating a major influx in new female participants thanks to the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and this upgrade is vital in ensuring that the club can cater to the extra members that are due to arrive.

The women’s game has always been a big focus for Pittwater RSL FC, with the club now boasting a football community of over 1,200 members and more than 35% of that consisting of female player registrations.

NSW Legacy Facilities and Grants Officer, James Spanoudakis explained the decision to choose Kitchener Park for the funding, adding via media release:

“The lighting upgrade at Kitchener Park has already proven to be an invaluable asset for Pittwater RSL FC,” he said

“The new lights will amplify the clubs capacity by an additional 3-4 sessions per night and allow night games in the largest football association in NSW.

“The lighting upgrade will provide female footballers with extended opportunities to relish the sport alongside their friends and will inspire their engagement with the game for years to come.”

This lighting upgrade at Kitchener Park is a great use of funds by Football NSW as it brings a multitude of benefits for a striving club that has a clear goal of rapidly increasing female participation and the potential to expand Kitchener Park into a more useful venue.

Dandenong Thunder to enjoy $700,000 LED lighting upgrade at George Andrews Reserve

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Dandenong Thunder lighting upgrade
Image via Star Journal

Greater Dandenong Council and Dandenong Thunder have recently confirmed that works have commenced for new powerful lighting towers to be built at George Andrews Reserve.

The upgrade will cost $700,000 and is being jointly funded by Greater Dandenong Council ($500,000) and the State Government ($200,000) with a plan to improve the ground’s overall quality for both training and matches. They formerly had 200-lux LED towers and they will be replaced by 500-lux towers.

For the Greater Dandenong local council, the focus was to improve the facility for the community to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits through the increased amount of playable hours at the reserve.

Importantly, the project ensures that the Thunder have a ground that is up to professional competition and broadcast standards which means they can broadcast and host games that are viewed by a national audience, a huge step forward for the NPL Victoria club.

This broadcast upgrade also opens up the possibility to expand to national matches involving the Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City A-League women’s teams and an even more ambitious goal of hosting a Matildas game. The ground can easily hold 5000 people and the lighting and broadcasting standards will be fantastic after this upgrade.

Dandenong Thunder shared the positive implications this light upgrade has for the club.

“The new lights mean the club will be able to host a number of games, not only that but it’s a step forward to the clubs ambition to be part of the NSD (national second division),” a club spokesperson told Soccerscene.

“The support from local council has been nothing but fantastic, Dandenong want to be a sporting hub for the south east suburbs.

“With the FA cup we have seen A-League clubs play at local level clubs, having these new high powered lights we will be able to broadcast at a higher quality, no more yellow light broadcast.”

This news presents an exciting future for Dandenong Thunder and the matches played at George Andrews Reserve. The quality of training, matches and broadcasts has improved tenfold and it matches the size of the NPL Victoria side that have big ambitions.

CPKC and Kansas City Current’s major stadium naming rights deal a win for women’s sport

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CPKC Stadium design
Image via CPKC

The world’s first professional female-football dedicated stadium – home of the NWSL’s Kansas City Current – will be known as CPKC Stadium, after an historic naming rights deal was agreed with the North American rail network company.

Formed as a merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern rail networks in July this year, CPKC represents the first trans-North American rail network between Canada, the United States and Mexico.

CPKC has been a leading investor for women’s sports in the state of Kansas, and CPKC President & CEO, Keith Creel, was proud to announce the stadium naming rights deal.

“We are incredibly proud to sponsor the Kansas City Current and support this history-making project here in the city that is at the heart of our North American rail network,” Creel said via press release.

“CPKC has been a long-time champion of women’s sports and of investing in our communities. This stadium and this partnership with the Current will build on that legacy as together we write a new chapter here in Kansas City.”

CPKC will also hold naming rights to the stadium’s outdoor space for fans, which will be known as CPKC Plaza. This area provides entertainment for all CPKC Stadium attendees, including the KC Current’s official merchandise store.

It is hoped that the naming rights deal will kickstart further investment in women’s football across the region, which has been the cornerstone of the KC Current’s existence according to co-founders and owners, Angie and Chris Long.

“Our [KC Current & CPKC] organisations share a commitment to strive for excellence, invest heavily in our communities and raise the bar with global influence. We are extremely excited to work with CPKC on this historic agreement and know our partnership will create a long-standing positive impact!”

Further to its substantial investment in women’s football, CPKC’s establishment of a direct line between Canada, the United States and Mexico is expected to have substantial benefits for football supporters attending the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup.

Presently, though, the stadium naming rights deal demonstrates CPKC’s intention to be a key investor in women’s football across Kansas and North America.

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