Magpies Empty Nest For State-of-art Eyrie
The Sunday Age
Sunday June 27, 2004
Scungy carpet, twisted, grubby lengths of tape, chipped steps leading to an old spa bath, smelly, abandoned sneakers and holes knocked in plywood walls through anger or exuberance.
Sights that would be familiar to amateur footballers, but these dressing rooms lie under the stands at Victoria Park, which until this week housed the Collingwood Football Club's heart.That heart will be transplanted to the Lexus Centre, a new complex on the banks of the Yarra at Olympic Park.The coaching, administrative and playing staff will wave goodbye to the dark, cramped warren that has been home to them and their predecessors for more than 110 years. They will say hello to an indoor running track, 25-metre pool, huge gymnasium, 70-seat auditorium and an interactive hall of fame.The new $20 million complex has been created from the shell of the old Glasshouse and funded by the Collingwood Football Club, the State Government and the Olympic Park trust.Brad Paatsch, the architect of the move and marketing operations manager at the Lexus Centre, stressed that it was not a unilateral decision by the board: "I think there will be a few tears shed, but if you compare what's there to what's here, it's a complete contrast."
© 2004 The Sunday Age