Melbourne City's New HQ and Training Facility

[Kiro Kompiro]

Not sure where these high spending expectations are coming from given that the owners stated at the very first presser or so that  their spending would be in line with the league concerned.

[NewConvert]

Not sure where these high spending expectations are coming from given that the owners stated at the very first presser or so that  their spending would be in line with the league concerned.

Well I presume that CFG will wish to match Victory's training facility as well as the Roars. Even CCM are meant to have upgraded. But basically putting all staff in one building is really a no brainer (been there, done that). The pitches and other facilities are what is important.

The one thing not mentioned is that Man City have specialist goalkeeping training facilities but in the article this is not mentioned. Given the way that the team has been leaking I would have thought tat it would be a priority.

[Luke]

Not sure where these high spending expectations are coming from given that the owners stated at the very first presser or so that  their spending would be in line with the league concerned.

Well I presume that CFG will wish to match Victory's training facility as well as the Roars. Even CCM are meant to have upgraded. But basically putting all staff in one building is really a no brainer (been there, done that). The pitches and other facilities are what is important.

The one thing not mentioned is that Man City have specialist goalkeeping training facilities but in the article this is not mentioned. Given the way that the team has been leaking I would have thought tat it would be a priority.

Hasn't helped Joe Hart too much either

[jw1739]

I recall Falastur and others saying right from the start that what we would see is a "slow-burn" process for Melbourne City, and I think that's what we are seeing now. I doubt CFG are going to be overly influenced by what other A-League clubs might be doing; rather, IMO, they will rely on their experience at the Manchester HQ, and if that experience indicates that something ought to be implemented elsewhere than that's what will happen.

 

I am not sure that we intend to abandon our use of the present Lower Playing Fields grounds where the recent home Youth league matches have been played. I find this quote from Simon Pearce, taken from Windley's article, to be somewhat ambiguous with respect to the youth team.

 

“Our City Football Group team has been quietly developing the new Academy building, first-team facility and executive offices, and the whole Melbourne City organisation will move there shortly after the tour.”

[Melburnian]

The $5 million dollars quoted is funny. I would expect if this facility was built in the cbd it would cost around the $25 million dollars (my estimation). Location and all that.

Having a base, hidden and our own is not dissimilar to those in the Premier League. I have visited the Benton Training base at Newcastle United and it's not in the middle of the city, is quite secluded but it's all their own and state of the art.

Sharing facilities ala Victory is small time. Even if it's in the city in a massive stadium. It's a shared facility not owned by them.

This is an upgrade on most.

[Pandev]

So our new facilities are at our existing training ground, correct?

If so, why the fuss?! Merely a major upgrade.

[SF33]

Not sure the viability of this, but I wonder if we'd be considering taking a leaf out of the richer AFL clubs' books and making the pitches replicate as close as possible, what we would expect from the various stadiums around the A-League. Now, obviously when compared to the AFL, that would have less to do with actual dimensions and the like, and more with the actual surfaces. I guess in that sense, two probably wouldn't be enough and you'd ideally like to have four or so which all played differently, depending on the texture of the grass/turf used.

 

As for the money spent, I really don't care if it's $5 million, or $50 million, as long as we are second to none for our training facilities in the league

[silva10]

Well I don't have any idea of the quality of the training bases that the A League teams possess, but I am sure it is better to have facilities that you can call your own.

 

It will be interesting to see the facilites when they are completed. What it shows is the long term commitment to having a successful team in Melbourne.

 

Also I can only see it helping bring through better players in the future, which would only benefit the whole of Australian football.

[Shahanga]

So our new facilities are at our existing training ground, correct?

If so, why the fuss?! Merely a major upgrade.

No.

It's true it's very close (500m ?) but it's a new facility. New ground & new offices.

I would hope having the offices at the ground will help the club culture. I can see that a disconnect could develop when the two are separated, which would not be healthy.

[Dylan]

So our new facilities are at our existing training ground, correct?

If so, why the fuss?! Merely a major upgrade.

No.

It's true it's very close (500m ?) but it's a new facility. New ground & new offices.

I would hope having the offices at the ground will help the club culture. I can see that a disconnect could develop when the two are separated, which would not be healthy.

The players seemed to really like the upgrade on the lower playing fields. I remember murdocca saying something like its great to have a home. So i would assume that there would be an even stronger sense of this. Especially (as mentioned above) we own the facilities, we dont lease them. Some members get to go to a training session as apart of the package so hopefully we get a little tour of the place

[CityHeart]

Do we own this land, or leasing it?

[Shahanga]

Do we own this land, or leasing it?

Why are people assuming CFG own it?

I just thought it was la trobe's land.

[agoalie]

If it's cost 5m then I'd say we have bought it or at least have it on a long term lease. I know Deakin has similar long term arrangements with businesses that use their land.

[belaguttman]

Are there still wheelie bins?

[silva10]

Are there still wheelie bins?

 

Only to get rid of the rubbish!

 

I guess Ramsay better watch out lol

[Moraiwe]

Yeah, but now they're being used to ferry our more fragile players from changeroom to pitch lest they trip on a pebble and die.

[jw1739]

Is it true that the physiotherapy room in the new complex has been named "The Germano Room"?

[Falastur]

If it's cost 5m then I'd say we have bought it or at least have it on a long term lease. I know Deakin has similar long term arrangements with businesses that use their land.

I'd say it's probably rented. NYCFC are paying $10m (US) to build training facilities on land they are renting and only intend to use for 3-5 years while they find the land to build a substantially more expensive permanent home. I'd expect the same to be the case here. This is essentially the equivalent of staying in the penthouse suite while you look for a mansion to buy. And this is also just a small indication of the weight CFG is willing to put behind Melbourne City, spending millions on temporary accommodation. It will likely give the upgraded facilities back to LaTrobe for free when it finishes using them.

Edited December 29, 2014 by Falastur

[jw1739]

I'm not sure, but wouldn't there be restrictions on universities selling assets anyway? They are established by Acts of Parliament and I would think they are "national assets." 

[silva10]

 

If it's cost 5m then I'd say we have bought it or at least have it on a long term lease. I know Deakin has similar long term arrangements with businesses that use their land.

I'd say it's probably rented. NYCFC are paying $10m (US) to build training facilities on land they are renting and only intend to use for 3-5 years while they find the land to build a substantially more expensive permanent home. I'd expect the same to be the case here. This is essentially the equivalent of staying in the penthouse suite while you look for a mansion to buy. And this is also just a small indication of the weight CFG is willing to put behind Melbourne City, spending millions on temporary accommodation. It will likely give the upgraded facilities back to LaTrobe for free when it finishes using them.

 

 

Also when Sheik Mansour bought us they upgraded our Carrington facility extensively.

 

Basically they are happy to spend money even if it is only for the short term and build their own facility later.

[Torn Asunder]

No doubt it would be a lease arrangement

[NewConvert]

I'm not sure, but wouldn't there be restrictions on universities selling assets anyway? They are established by Acts of Parliament and I would think they are "national assets." 

 

They are state assets. And yes private sector can enter into arrangements with Universities to build, operate and run facilities on University land. Often they are in conjunction with the University but they don't have to be. The arrangements include end of lease or operation clauses. I know this because my brother is working on such a project now.

[Falastur]

I'm not sure, but wouldn't there be restrictions on universities selling assets anyway? They are established by Acts of Parliament and I would think they are "national assets."

 

They are state assets. And yes private sector can enter into arrangements with Universities to build, operate and run facilities on University land. Often they are in conjunction with the University but they don't have to be. The arrangements include end of lease or operation clauses. I know this because my brother is working on such a project now.

I'm sure this is all right but I think he's point was that unis can't sell their own land.

[NewConvert]

 

 

I'm not sure, but wouldn't there be restrictions on universities selling assets anyway? They are established by Acts of Parliament and I would think they are "national assets."

 

They are state assets. And yes private sector can enter into arrangements with Universities to build, operate and run facilities on University land. Often they are in conjunction with the University but they don't have to be. The arrangements include end of lease or operation clauses. I know this because my brother is working on such a project now.

I'm sure this is all right but I think he's point was that unis can't sell their own land.

 

Yes they can. Victoria University has bought and sold land. There may be certain covenants regarding certain title lands - for example I can't see Melbourne Uni selling any of its main campus or being able to do so but they certainly have bought and sold land around Ballarat.

[jw1739]

Acquisition and disposal of land is covered Sections 36-38 of the La Trobe University Act, which you can look at here:

 

http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt7.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/BAF63615F74BDE12CA257AE1001BBA8E/$FILE/09-75aa005%20authorised.pdf

 

I'm no legal expert, but I think it says that land, with certain exceptions, may not be sold without the approval of the Minister, and that any land leased by the university must be for a period not exceeding 21 years.

[SF33]

Presumably, the issue here is that a university may invariably be afforded some concessions from the government when acquiring assets for the benefit of its students and faculty, with the explicit understanding that it won't turn around and sell those assets off a few years down the track to make a quid and at the expense of future students and faculty.

 

It's probably a bit murky since, on face value, you should be able to do whatever you want with an asset that you have bought that hasn't been funded by taxpayer money, but then you'd probably be digging a bit deeper and looking at the nature of the profits which allowed the purchases to be made in the first place, because almost every revenue stream would presumably be traced back to the university capitalising on its public nature. Direct donations would probably be ok, provided you had the approval of the donor.

 

At the end of the day though, owning the facility sounds great, but would it really make that much difference for our purposes? It's not like the players are going to have to weave in and out of Arts students playing hacky sack while doing their drills on the pitches.

[Dylan]

For those wondering how owning the building but not the land. Look at canberra.

[Pandev]

Just seen the new facilities...the blue track stands out. They were watering the lawn tonight at 7:30pm. Its opposite the Heidelberg industrial area, and appears to be part of the existing classrooms of Latrobe uni which is located on Waterdale Rd cnr Kingsbury Dr. As posted previously, it seems entrance is from Kingsbury dr. Also, I wonder if they've created a new gym, ice spa, and lap pool or the existing Latrobe facilities will be utilised?? For 5m they should never have to cross the road unless attending a lecture.

[Tesla]

Regardless of whether a uni can sell land or not, I'd be pretty confident it would just be a lease. Maybe a free lease of the land with the land and facilities/buildings on it reverting to Latrobe at the end of the lease, if Falastur is right about this only being short term.

FWIW, if Melbourne Uni can merge a department with a private company (as they did with their commerce department), then it wouldn't surprise me if a uni can sell land.

 

Just seen the new facilities...the blue track stands out. They were watering the lawn tonight at 7:30pm. Its opposite the Heidelberg industrial area, and appears to be part of the existing classrooms of Latrobe uni which is located on Waterdale Rd cnr Kingsbury Dr. As posted previously, it seems entrance is from Kingsbury dr. Also, I wonder if they've created a new gym, ice spa, and lap pool or the existing Latrobe facilities will be utilised?? For 5m they should never have to cross the road unless attending a lecture.

This is Australia, just painting a bit of blue around the field probably cost $1m.

Edited December 31, 2014 by Tesla

[malloy]

Regardless of whether a uni can sell land or not, I'd be pretty confident it would just be a lease. Maybe a free lease of the land with the land and facilities/buildings on it reverting to Latrobe at the end of the lease, if Falastur is right about this only being short term.

FWIW, if Melbourne Uni can merge a department with a private company (as they did with their commerce department), then it wouldn't surprise me if a uni can sell land.

Just seen the new facilities...the blue track stands out. They were watering the lawn tonight at 7:30pm. Its opposite the Heidelberg industrial area, and appears to be part of the existing classrooms of Latrobe uni which is located on Waterdale Rd cnr Kingsbury Dr. As posted previously, it seems entrance is from Kingsbury dr. Also, I wonder if they've created a new gym, ice spa, and lap pool or the existing Latrobe facilities will be utilised?? For 5m they should never have to cross the road unless attending a lecture.

This is Australia, just painting a bit of blue around the field probably cost $1m.

It wasn't a government contract, so probably only $300k

[Tesla]

Regardless of whether a uni can sell land or not, I'd be pretty confident it would just be a lease. Maybe a free lease of the land with the land and facilities/buildings on it reverting to Latrobe at the end of the lease, if Falastur is right about this only being short term.

FWIW, if Melbourne Uni can merge a department with a private company (as they did with their commerce department), then it wouldn't surprise me if a uni can sell land.

 

Just seen the new facilities...the blue track stands out. They were watering the lawn tonight at 7:30pm. Its opposite the Heidelberg industrial area, and appears to be part of the existing classrooms of Latrobe uni which is located on Waterdale Rd cnr Kingsbury Dr. As posted previously, it seems entrance is from Kingsbury dr. Also, I wonder if they've created a new gym, ice spa, and lap pool or the existing Latrobe facilities will be utilised?? For 5m they should never have to cross the road unless attending a lecture.

This is Australia, just painting a bit of blue around the field probably cost $1m.

It wasn't a government contract, so probably only $300k

Yeah but I factored in that there might be a bit of rain one day, maybe a bit too hot the next (it is melbourne after all), workers coming off a crack bender the day after that (since they just had the last 2 days off while still getting paid), etc.

When you add up paying for all those non productive days that $300k will still turn into $1m.

[Heart_fan]

Any pic updates from this new site at Latrobe?

 

The last pic updates sure do look like it could be very promising.

[Dylan]

I dont think this is us. I was just there taking photos and there is no signage at all there is nothing inside the building and it looks half constructed inside. Also on the door it has the latrobe logo and the language centre logo and thats it. The only things are the football pitches with the blue around it. So either matt windley got it wrong that they will move into the offices after the abu dhabi trip. Or its not the place

[NuggetsMcGreggor]

It is the place. It's barely a shell at the moment. Contractors are skeptical about the timeframe but we'll see if it's ready this month. I'd be surprised.

It's not a huge facility, definitely not big enough for both senior and youth squads. Locker room is about the size of the laundry. Hydrobaths though!

[jw1739]

I dont think this is us. I was just there taking photos and there is no signage at all there is nothing inside the building and it looks half constructed inside. Also on the door it has the latrobe logo and the language centre logo and thats it. The only things are the football pitches with the blue around it. So either matt windley got it wrong that they will move into the offices after the abu dhabi trip. Or its not the place

You may be right. Possibly all we did was "inadvertently mislead" everyone over the whole thing. All we really did was sign a pre-contract commitment to build the thing, and then we changed our minds and decided to build it in New York instead. Or was that Manchester?

 

That sounds familiar to me somehow...

[NewConvert]

It is the place. It's barely a shell at the moment. Contractors are skeptical about the timeframe but we'll see if it's ready this month. I'd be surprised.

It's not a huge facility, definitely not big enough for both senior and youth squads. Locker room is about the size of the laundry. Hydrobaths though!

Once a shell is in place it takes about a week to finalise an office floor. In Japan they have the art down to about 4 days to complete a floor - in Oz we are not that good but I believe it is about 7 days.

[Dylan]

excuse the res of these

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 11, 2015 by Dylan

[baddersss]

Youth team to stay at the old base, new one is for the senior team, that comes straight from JD.

[jw1739]

...which is what Simon Pearce said right from the beginning...

 

 

“Our City Football Group team has been quietly developing the new Academy building, first-team facility and executive offices, and the whole Melbourne City organisation will move there shortly after the tour.”

 

[Heart_fan]

Any latest update on this?

 

The team is well and tuly back from Abu Dhabi afterall and no word yet on progress from the club. The CFG secrecy at work again

 

The other aspect of this is that the new building will also be for the academy, but no word yet on how that will play out and timelines on implementing that youth structure have been mentioned. Will be interesting top see what they have planned for that.

Edited February 4, 2015 by Heart_fan