By Damo Baresi - 3 Jul 2012 9:37 AM
Ballarat could host Asian Cup internationals
TOM MCILROY
02 Jul, 2012 10:54 PM
INTERNATIONAL soccer matches as part of the Asian Cup competition could be played at Ballarat’s new soccer stadium in 2014, potentially providing a tourism and sporting boost to the city.
Football Federation Victoria chief executive officer Mark Rendell added momentum to the prospect this week, saying the new purpose-built stadium facility at Morshead Park would be considered for training and matches if its pitch was of a suitable standard.
“Ballarat would be a superb location to host visiting Asian national teams as they arrive early to acclimatise and prepare for the AFC Asian Cup in 2015,” Mr Rendell said.
“I understand that the new stadium is planned to be in great shape by then, but much will depend on the quality of the pitch, the standard of media facilities, lighting and the proximity of quality accommodation as well.”
National teams are expected to arrive in Australia up to three weeks before the likely January 9 start to the competition, giving Ballarat the potential to see teams including Japan, China, UAE, India and South Korea training in the city in the lead-up to the tournament.
“If a pre-Asian Cup international friendly were to be broadcast and played in Ballarat, it would attract tens of millions of television viewers and would no doubt put Ballarat on the world sporting stage,” Mr Rendell said.
He said Football Federation Victoria would work with clubs around Victoria to develop proposals for the event.
Ballarat Red Devils vice-president Andrew Burgess said the momentum for internationals in Ballarat could bring enormous benefits.
“This really is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get football, and more broadly the City of Ballarat, well and truly front and centre in Australia and for that matter Asia,” he said.
“We need to get on the front foot now and start the work, so that we can in two-and-a-half years look back and say we did whatever it took to get this done.”
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-could-host-asian-cup-internationals/2611039.aspx
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By paladisious - 7 Jul 2012 1:59 AM
Red Devils website wrote:Ballarat Regional Football StadiumThe new Ballarat Regional Football Stadium will start to take shape from late May and be completed by late March 2012. Already the $1.75 million synthetic pitch has been completed as has a grass pitch. The new $5.5 million stadium will consist of 500 under cover seats, a 175 seat function room, a 125 seat members bar, 6 change rooms, 2 official rooms as well as a food kiosk, players race and store rooms. There will also be office space for the Red Devils as well as other sporting clubs and organisations from Ballarat. It will also have 4 light towers consisting of 12 to16 light on each. In the precinct there will be room for 100 car parks and coach parking.   
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Edited by paladisious: 7/7/2012 02:00:59 AM
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