A-League football clubs these days comprise multiple teams and require multiple facilities. A club’s physical infrastructure influences everything from club culture to team performance and after 20 years of A-League football many of the clubs have been forward thinking in their infrastructure arrangements.
Where does your club rank in terms of its facilities, and where can it improve?
Let’s take a look at the Newcastle Jets.
Current Set Up
The Jets currently have one of the most disjointed facilities arrangements in the A-League. Their Youth teams play and train at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility. Their ALW team plays matches at multiple venues but appear to be based at No. 2 Showground. Their ALM team is based out of the Maitland Regional Sports Complex and plays matches at the Newcastle International Sports Centre.
History of Set Up
The Newcastle Breakers were an old NSL team which played in an outer suburb at the Breakers Stadium. Newcastle United Jets were formed in 2000 after the breakers dissolved but elected to play out of the more centrally located Newcastle International Sports Centre. They have played at this large venue since their inception, and it has always far exceeded their requirements. However, in lieu of a more appropriately sized venue the Jets have remained there.
The Jets have never been able to secure a long term facility arrangement, and as such their teams remain spread through the region on temporary arrangements. Their ALM team currently trains out of the Maitland Regional Sports Complex in a deal cut just a couple of years ago.
The ALW team appear to have found an appropriate home at the No. 2 Showground. They have been based out of the venue for a number of years now after previously playing matches at a number of different venues across the region.
The Youth and NPL teams have also played at a number of venues including Jack McLaughlan Oval and are currently now based at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
Over the years the club has had its teams play at Wanderers Oval in Broadmeadow, and at Adamstown Oval in Adamstown. They have also trained at the University of Newcastle.
Assessment of Set Up, Gaps and Opportunities
Newcastle’s arrangement simply is not appropriate for the long term operational efficiency of the club. Regional and outer suburb locations generally provide excellent long term opportunities for clubs (Western United, Central Coast) however Newcastle has failed to lay solid foundations after over 20 years in the region.
This has been a grave failure in part due to ownership instability experienced byt he club as well as the dissolution of the original Newcastle Jets business entity after the collapse of Nathan Tinkler’s ownership. The club will continue to be unable to secure long term arrangements, until their current ownership situation is secured for the long term, and as we know from recent headlines, this is still up in the air.
Once ownership is secured, the club must find a long term operating lease with either a local council (like Melbourne City) or with Newcastle University (like Sydney FC). It must aim to base all of its teams at a single training and administrative base. Only this can provide the optimal operating stability the club, its fans and administration deserve.
A massive opportunity exists for the club with a pending redevelopment near the Newcastle International Sports Centre. The Hunter Park redevelopment may deliver training facilities a stones throw away from the club’s home ground. Collaboration with this development may provide a long term solution to the club’s facility woes.
Notes and considerations
There exists opportunity and appetite for proper facilities in Newcastle, as evidenced by the Newcastle Knight’s CoE, just a stones throw away from the clubs’ shared home ground at Newcastle International Sports Centre. This CoE however also underlines the disparity between a well-run Rugby League club, and a poor Football Club.
Ratings based on future set up
Overall Ranking: 11th out of 12
Overall Rating: D
Newcastle currently have appropriate training venues for all their teams. They also have places to play all of their matches. None of these arrangements though provide long term options to build out a club. Unfortunately though, Newcastle must secure stable ownership before entering into arrangements for long term facilities.
The Beautiful Game 