Frankston Football Club will shine a light on a bright future thanks to support from Frankston City Council and the State and Federal Governments.
The new lights at SkyBus Stadium will be turned on for the first night game – a practice match between Frankston Football Club and the Northern Bullants – on Thursday, 25 March at 7.30pm.
Frankston City Council Mayor Kris Bolam said the first game under lights is a major milestone.
“The broadcast quality lights promise a great future for Frankston Football Club, which is based at SkyBus Stadium.
“The new lighting will allow VFL and AFLW matches to be broadcast from SkyBus Stadium, securing the ground’s place as a premium sporting facility. It’s a venue that all people can celebrate with the new lights taking the stadium to the next level.
“Frankston Football Club VFL men’s team will compete in the new look 22 team competition in 2021, including teams from New South Wales and Queensland. The women’s team will compete in the South East Women’s Football League Division One competition. We’re looking forward to seeing our men’s and women’s teams do us proud under lights,” Mayor Bolam said.
The $2.8 million lighting upgrade was made possible by funding from all three levels of government, with contributions of $850,000 from the Federal Government, $650,000 from the State Government and $1.3 million from Frankston City Council.
Liberal Senator for Victoria, David Van, said: “I’m delighted the Morrison Government is able to partner with Council and the Victorian Government to put Frankston’s SkyBus Stadium on the map as a premium sporting facility.
“This investment will bring more opportunities for VFL and AFLW matches to be played in Frankston, bringing more people into the local area and boosting the region’s business and economy,” Senator Van said.
Federal Member for Dunkley, Peta Murphy said: “The new broadcast quality lighting will allow for night games right here in Frankston. Our great club, the Frankston Football Club, deserves the best and so does the rest of our community.”
State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke MP, said: “Frankston Football Club is a proud part of Victoria’s football history and a cornerstone of this community – these broadcast quality lights ensures they have the facilities they need to train, win and grow.
“The club is Frankston, through and through. With this investment, we’re backing the club and the community,” Mr Edbrooke said.
Frankston Football Club CEO, Adrian Lloyd, said: “We are excited as a club to play our very first game under our new broadcast quality lights against the Northern Bullants.
“We look forward to sharing this occasion with our members which is now heading to a record for the club with over 850 signed up so far for the 2021 season.
“This comes in a year when we will play our 1000th game since joining the VFA in 1966 and then the VFL in Round 6 of the VFL season,” Mr Lloyd said.
The lights can be turned up or down depending on whether training, standard matches or broadcast level games are taking place.
The old lights had an illumination capacity of 150 lux, while the new lights feature a range of settings between 100 and 1000 lux. Illumination levels are not expected to exceed 500 lux more than six times per year and the lights will be switched off before 10.30pm on these occasions.
Council in 2105 opened the two-storey Frankston Park Function Centre – providing both a new base for Frankston Football Club and a modern function centre to create a hub for a wider section of the local community.
The Function Centre was funded by the Council ($1.5 million), State Government ($1.5 million), Frankston Football Club ($400,000), AFL Victoria ($250,000), AFL ($250,000) and Federal Government ($200,000).
To support Frankston Football Club, visit https://frankstonfc.com.au/
Caption:
Mayor Kris Bolam, Frankston Football Club women’s coach Greg Hilton, Club men’s captain Josh Newman and Club CEO Adrian Lloyd at SkyBus Stadium.
