In great news for women’s sport in the NT, TIO Stadium now has four new change rooms at Oval Two as part of the Territory Labor Government’s $3 million investment in facilities at the stadium.

The new change rooms were built to meet the AFL’s Preferred Facilities Guidelines which outlines best practice in the design of amenities for both male and female users.

AFLNT have invested $200,000 into the infrastructure project.

Playing footy is a way of life in the Territory and with increasing female participation rates, there is a need to provide welcoming physical environments and to ensure that all players and umpires have access to appropriate change room facilities.

The upgrades also include a new kiosk and ticket box, and separate rooms for umpires, timekeepers and media.

The upgrades come after the Territory Government invested $4.1 million to refurbish and upgrade TIO Stadium in 2017, so it could continue to host large-scale AFL, NRL and community events.

Quotes from Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture, Lauren Moss:

“We have invested over $57 million to regenerate the Marrara Sporting Precinct, benefiting thousands of sporting Territorians and creating hundreds of jobs during construction.

“We know how important Australian Football is to Territorians and we want to support the growing participation rates of women and girls and ensure they have access to high quality sporting facilities.

“Great facilities can help increase participation in sport, and female friendly change rooms are the most important addition at any new facility.

“The new facilities at TIO Oval 2 complement a suite of upgrades at the stadium that are improving the player, umpires' and spectator experience.

“Our Government is supporting women’s sport in a number of other ways too, including new change rooms at Larrakia Park  soccer stadium and some community facilities in Alice Springs; $225,000 for the talent pathways into the AFLW competition; and the Women in Sport Advisory Committee.”

Quotes from CEO AFLNT, Stuart Totham:

"Over the past couple of years, AFLNT completed an audit of all the grounds and facilities across the Territory that are utilised to play footy and found where the gaps and opportunities are. The upgrades required to TIO Oval 2 formed one component of that audit.

“The support of the Northern Territory Government in completing this project now means that TIO Oval 2 meets the AFL's minimum preferred standards, which puts the needs of players, teams, umpires and fans at the forefront of infrastructure and planning.

"We look forward to seeing the strain on the TIO Stadium facilities lessen while TIO Oval 2 will be abuzz with activity."

Quotes from Nightcliff Women's Premier League co-captain, Hannah Turnbull:

Note: Nightcliff was one of the first teams to use the new facilities on Saturday.

"It's great to see the improvements that have been made to TIO Oval 2 and to know there will now be enough change rooms for all the games and teams that play each weekend.

“It takes the whole experience up a notch, so it's no longer just the 'back oval' at TIO Stadium."

Media contact: Lisa Sennett 0436 929 858