Olympic Park Oval


Olympic Park Oval is an Australian rules football ground located on the site of the former Olympic Park Stadium in Olympic Park, Melbourne. The Oval's primary purpose is as the training ground of the Collingwood Football Club and as a venue for some of the club's VFL matches. It is located alongside the club's other tenanted facility, the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre.

History & usage

As part of a larger redevelopment of the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment precinct, the Olympic Park Stadium was torn down in 2012. Olympic Park Oval was created in its former location. The oval opened for use on 11 April 2013. The Federal Government and Collingwood Football Club announced in April 2012 the additional construction of indoor community and training facilities on the site. These were opened in October 2015.
Olympic Park Oval plays hosts to matches in the VFL. In addition, each of the club's three teams train at the Oval, while administration of the club is conducted in the associated Glasshouse pavilion and the connected Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre. It was the primary home ground for in the AFL Women's competition during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. No games were fixtured at the venue for the 2019 season, with Victoria Park taking over as the team's primary home ground.
The Oval remains public land and is available for casual use, though the Melbourne Olympic Park Trust restricts use for official training and sporting usage.

Design

The oval features a grass playing surface in the standard shape for Australian rules football and Cricket. It boasts a two-lane running track around its exterior.
For viewing purposes the oval features limited concrete terracing and four light towers for evening play.
The associated indoor structure is a multi-use community and events space. The building includes a gym, cafe, theater and office space and is internally connected to the older Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre.