VFL Park
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| Former names | VFL Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°55′32″S 145°11′19″E / 37.92556°S 145.18861°ECoordinates: 37°55′32″S 145°11′19″E / 37.92556°S 145.18861°E |
| Owner | Mirvac |
| Operator | Hawthorn Football Club |
| Capacity | 2,000 (formerly 72,000) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1966 |
| Opened | 1970 |
| Closed | 2000 |
| Demolished | 2002 |
| Construction cost | A$3m (original) |
| Architect | Various |
| Tenants | |
| Current: Hawthorn Football Club (AFL) (admin. + training) Former: Fitzroy Football Club (AFL) St Kilda Football Club (AFL) Waverley Reds (ABL) |
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Waverley Park (originally VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian based Victorian Football League/Australian Football League clubs. However, during the 1990s it became the home ground of both the Hawthorn and St Kilda football clubs. It was later replaced by Docklands Stadium. It is currently used as a training venue by Hawthorn. The main grandstand and oval are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. The seating capacity is now 2,000, down from a peak of 72,000.
Waverley Park (then VFL Park) was first conceived in 1959 when delegates from the 12 VFL clubs requested the league to find land that was suitable for the building of a new stadium. In September 1962, the VFL had secured a 212-acre (860,000 m²) block of grazing and market garden land in Mulgrave. This area was chosen because it was believed that with the effects of urban sprawl and the proposed building of the South-Eastern (later called Monash) freeway, the area would become the demographic centre of Melbourne. The VFL reportedly lobbied the state government to construct a train connection to the stadium, but this never occurred.
The original plans were for a stadium catering for up to 157,000 patrons, which would have made it one of the biggest stadiums in the world. To accommodate the large number of patrons the members' stand was to be extended around the whole ground. However, in 1982 and/or 1983 when the extensions were due to commence, the Government of Victoria refused to approve the plans for the upgrade because it would have threatened the Melbourne Cricket Ground's right to host the VFL Grand Final (the league owned VFL Park had originally been built with the intent of replacing the MCG as the permanent home of the grand final, but the Victorian government, with interests in the MCG, refused to allow its capacity upgrade). Hence, no further development ever occurred and the capacity was set at just over 100,000 patrons (later reduced to 72,000).
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