Canberra United's move to the University of Canberra has breathed new life into plans to turn the campus into a state-of-the-art sports hub with a near $50 million price tag.
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The W-League's most successful club has shifted its base to the university to join the ACT Brumbies, Canberra Capitals, and university rugby sevens programs on campus.
The influx of elite sporting clubs using the Bruce campus has reignited the institution's plans to house $46 million worth of facilities designed to turn the university into a national leader on the sporting front.
Canberra United will train on the field adjacent to the Capitals' basketball court and the Brumbies' facilities, and have access to the sports science, gym and recovery facilities.
The club is set to have its own change rooms boasting Canberra United branding and their own sports science facilities, which university vice-chancellor Deep Saini hopes will transform the campus' image.
"The University of Canberra is one of Australia’s leading sports universities, and it is rising higher and higher on the global stage in sports," Saini said.
"This is actually bringing Canberra United to their rightful home, that is, I believe, the University of Canberra. This particular move changes the game in some ways for Canberra United and the University of Canberra.
"It is obvious they have access to a world class athletic facilities on this campus, they will be co-locating with a number of other teams we have relationships with, particularly the ACT Brumbies, Canberra Capitals and University of Canberra women’s rugby sevens.
"We will have now four leading teams from our community working, training, and doing their business on this campus.
"It is in this spirit that I am saying, [Canberra United coach Heather Garriock], particularly I will say to you, let’s make a commitment to bring the championship home this year. This is the year."
Plans had been put together for a $25 million, nine-court indoor stadium, which would boast a 3000-capacity show court with roll-in, roll-out grandstand seating, making it fit for basketball, netball, futsal and volleyball.
The indoor venue is part of a stage-two proposal for the university's vision to become the best sporting university in Australia.
The potential addition of a $5 million boutique soccer stadium, capable of hosting Canberra United's W-League fixtures, would take the value of facilities to more than $46 million.
The indoor stadium seating would be moveable and rolled out for feature events and rolled away when not in use.
The move is dependent on funding and infrastructure is crucial to the university's plan to position itself as Australia's leading sports institution.
Capital Football chief executive Phil Brown says moving to the university is "a great opportunity for our team to benefit from all the work the university has done to build a facility for sport".
Garriock has outlined plans to rub shoulders with coaches and athletes in Capitals and sevens programs, even floating the possibility of training together during the season.
"To call the University of Canberra home is really exciting. The girls have their own change rooms, their own branding, their own facilities, their own sports science facilities. It’s just so exciting and it makes sense."
Meanwhile, Belconnen United skipper Lauren Keir spearheaded a thrilling Federation Cup triumph as the Blue Devils secured a 2-1 win over the Canberra United Academy at McKellar Park on Wednesday night.
Some of the players on hand in the decider could yet put up their hands for the final few vacancies on Garriock's W-League roster.
