SA Footy

Michelle Etheridge wrote:
Bloods light up


West Adelaide president Paul Sperling


NIGHT football could be the light at the end of the financial tunnel for West Adelaide Football Club.

The club hopes to host twilight matches at Richmond Oval from 2010 after receiving the go-ahead to erect new floodlights at the ground.

The $400,000 project was approved by West Torrens Council last week.

Bloods president Paul Sperling said the club was keen to experiment with night games, in a bid to boost attendance and revenue and to create a new atmosphere at Richmond Oval, in Milner Rd.

“We’ve told the league that we’d like them to consider programming a couple of night games in the early part of the year before the weather turns sour,” he said.

``If the weather’s really balmy and the game goes into the night, I think it will attract a lot of interest.’’

Norwood and Central District are the only SANFL clubs with lighting capable of hosting twilight matches. Mr Sperling said the oval’s current lights were between 30 and 40 years old and they put player safety at risk.

``The light’s not evenly spread we’ve got some really bad patches and black holes.’’

The project has received $92,000 in federal funding; $50,000 from the AFL; and $116,500 from West Torrens in the form of a 10-year loan.

West Torrens CEO Terry Buss expected works to start early in the new year and be completed by April.

``One of the conditions that the council is keen to see is that the facilities are opened up for more community use,’’ he said.

Mr Buss said the ground could potentially be used by the SA Amateur Football League or for school sporting carnivals.

``West Adelaide hasn’t been the most successful club on and off the field over the last five or so years.

``This is part of trying to make the club more sustainable.’’

At the council meeting on Tuesday, October 20, Cr Barry Blackwell questioned whether the project was an appropriate use of the federal funding because the club’s main source of income was gaming machine revenue.

Mayor John Trainer said West Adelaide had ``a long tradition of community involvement’’.

``Provision of these lights will make it so much easier for the community to be involved at night and day.’’

Booney wrote:With CK to pull you* FREE beers after the game.

wycbloods wrote:

Booney wrote:With CK to pull you* FREE beers after the game.

Sojourner wrote:Interesting the difference between councils though, West Torrens Council do all they can to encourage the project including funding an interest free loan towards it and City of Holdfast Bay do all they can to put stumbling blocks in front of Glenelg from doing the same thing. One would have to think the Rex and the Hilton Hotel would be jam packed along with other local businesses on the night, so its little wonder the local council is supportive of it.

spell_check wrote: It's fact that night matches are better attended than day matches in any round of the season.

spell_check wrote:I'd like the Eags to play underlights against West at Richmond. But again, why not throughout the season and not just the first few rounds? It's fact that night matches are better attended than day matches in any round of the season.

topsywaldron wrote:

spell_check wrote: It's fact that night matches are better attended than day matches in any round of the season.

Can you tell us what the figures are Spelly?