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The AFL’s Adelaide Crows have secured long-term rights to Thebarton Oval where it plans to establish a new sporting and community precinct.

The City of West Torrens on Tuesday night granted the Crows a 42-year lease for Thebarton Oval and an adjoining area encompassing part of Kings Reserve to establish a $100 million training and administrative base.

This latest decision enables the Club to take the next step and proceed to a development application for the facility.

The Crows first identified Thebarton Oval as its preferred future headquarters in August 2022, with the decision met with some resistance from local residents.

Adelaide Football Club Chairman John Olsen thanked the Council for its support, adding the precinct would benefit not just players, coaches, staff, corporate partners, members and fans, but local residents, traders and community groups as well.

Noting that with the lease terms, which include an option to extend for an additional 42 years, now agreed the Club is well placed to further progress other key components of the project, the former South Australian Premier advised “once complete, our new training and administration headquarters will be the leading facility of its kind in the country and securing the long-term lease is another crucial step forward.

“We will be able to provide our male and female athletes with high performance advantages as they compete on the national stage and the venue will be the match day home for our highly successful AFLW team.

“Importantly, it will also be a place where our supporters can come together, and there will be new and improved green space and amenities for community use.”

Having already secured Federal and State Government funding support, the Club will lodge a formal development application with the State Commission Assessment Panel in coming days.

The headquarters for the AFL club currently remain at its former home at Football Park (formerly AAMI Stadium) at West Lakes, while the SANFL hold a lease at Thebarton Oval, with a move to the Crows current home on the cards.

Charles Sturt Council has deferred a decision on the SANFL’s move back to West Lakes until February.

In related news, the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) has signed with Health Partners that aligns the sponsor's brand with both the men’s and women’s state leagues.

Images: View of the proposed Crows’ planned training and administrative base at Thebarton Oval.

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