Please find below an update from the Brisbane Lions Board with relation to their search for a new training and administration facility:
We would like to update members on progress of the review of our new training and administration facility.
The committee assembled to examine the issue – CEO Greg Swann and the three Directors not involved in the original decision, Andrew Wellington, Sarah Kelly and Leigh Matthews – have met a number of times in recent months to discuss and analyse options open to the Club. A series of meetings has also been held with councils, governments and private enterprise, as well as visits to a number of venues across the region.
The review committee reported back to the Board this week and in turn we are informing you of their progress.
Committee members began by stating that they could understand the logic applied when the Springfield option was agreed to almost 18 months ago, and they concur it was the only fundable, triple-A venue option at the time.
However, the committee has found that much has changed over that period including a funding gap in the Springfield proposition which has yet to be solved.
Moving forward, criteria have been identified to help decide on the best option for a new facility. These include:
- The availability of funding and overall financial impact on the Club;
- Implications for the Club’s on-field performance including the well-being and retention of players and staff, having regard to both the quality of facilities and location;
- Opportunity to provide commercial activity on the site or in the immediate area;
- Opportunity to enhance engagement with supporters, sponsors and broader community;
- Potential to partner with other elite sporting organisations and/or community groups.
The committee believes these criteria will assist greatly as the Club moves through the process of due diligence in determining the best option for a new facility.
Communicating these criteria delivers on a commitment made at last month’s Members Forum at the Gabba to share with you, the members, the factors being considered by the committee in making such an important decision.
To date, the committee has been encouraged by the interest shown across councils, governments and the private sector to work with the Club on conceptual possibilities for a new facility.
A number of proposals have been considered during this investigation process and a shortlist prepared, including Springfield.
To protect and respect the sensitivity of confidential negotiations, the review committee will not be making public the other options at this stage until specifics are finalised.
We would ask members to respect that position.
The review committee – and the Board – is fully aware how important this issue is to you, and we are committed to keeping you updated throughout the process.
As Greg told the Members Forum, the Club wants to bring everybody along with us so there are no surprises.
Moving forward, the review committee needs, and asks, for the trust of our supporters to empower us to make the best decisions for the Club’s future.
That will allow us to come back with the best option for the entire Club – players, coaches, administration staff, sponsors and members.
At this stage, we would like to re-affirm that no Directors with an interest in any of the final options for the facility will participate in the final Board vote of the issue.
The Club took great strides in 2014 both on and off the field.
We believe the work being done by the review committee to ensure our players and staff have the best training and administration facilities is crucial to our long-term success.
The review committee will continue its work over coming months and we look forward to reporting back to you soon on the next moves in relation to the facility.
If you are a Brisbane Lions member or supporter and have a question on the review committee’s work on the Training and Administration Facility, please send it to the Club’s General Manager of Communications Steele Tallon at STallon@lions.com.au. We’ll use your questions to prepare a Q&A with CEO Greg Swann to be published on lions.com.au in coming weeks.
