Knights Stadium (Australia)
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| Knights Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Somers Street | |
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| Location | North Sunshine, Victoria, Australia |
| Opened | 1989 |
| Owner | Melbourne Croatia Social Club |
| Surface | Grass |
| Former names | Melbourne Croatia Sports Centre |
| Tenants |
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| Capacity |
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Knights Stadium is a Football (soccer) venue located at Somers Street in the Melbourne suburb of North Sunshine, Victoria, Australia. Built in 1989, it is used by the Melbourne Knights as a home ground in the Victorian Premier League, and previously in the National Soccer League. The Knights were one of only a handful of clubs in the NSL to actually own their home ground. The land at Somers St, which had been a Village drive through cinema, was bought and developed largely through donations and volunteer work from the local Croatian community.
The ground holds approximately 15,000 people, and consists of a seated main stand (the Mark Viduka Stand) with has a capacity of 4,000, with open standing-room terracing around the rest of the ground. The largest crowd at the stadium came in 2000 at an NSL match between the Melbourne Knights and South Melbourne FC, it drew a crowd of 11,500.
The Knights Stadium complex covers around 12 acres. It has 3 pitches, including the main pitch. The complex also contains the Melbourne Croatia club room and the 'Batcave' (a bar under the Mark Viduka Stand). The facility has its own car park with 1200 spaces.
The venue is also home to the Melbourne Croatia Social Club, which currently owns the ground with the Melbourne Knights serving as tenants. This came about in 2006 when the Melbourne Knights and Melbourne Croatia Social Club separated and become two separate legal entities. As such the Melbourne Croatia Social Club are now the legal owners of the facilities, with the Melbourne Knights serving as tenants. As of 2007 Coburg United, which plays in the Victorian State League Division 1, also uses Knights Stadium as its home ground.
The beginning of 2008 saw Knights stadium receive major work, the main pitch was relayed, stadium was cleaned, seats were replaced and painted also the trees were cut down on the south end and new red rocks were placed along the terraces
