THE Frankston Dolphins will play their first match under the new lights at Skybus Stadium this week.
The first night game played under the new lights will be a practice match between the Dolphins and the Northern Bullants on Thursday.
The light towers cost $2.8 million to construct. The federal government allocated $850,000 to the project, while the state government put in $650,000. Frankston ratepayers contributed $1.3 million.
Frankston Football Club CEO, Adrian Lloyd, said “we are excited as a club to play our very first game under our new broadcast quality lights against the Northern Bullants.”
“We look forward to sharing this occasion with our members which is now heading to a record for the club with over 850 signed up so far for the 2021 season. This comes in a year when we will play our 1000th game since joining the VFA in 1966 and then the VFL in Round 6 of the VFL season.”
Frankston mayor Kris Bolam said “the broadcast quality lights promise a great future for Frankston Football Club.”
“The new lighting will allow VFL and AFLW matches to be broadcast from SkyBus Stadium, securing the ground’s place as a premium sporting facility. It’s a venue that all people can celebrate with the new lights taking the stadium to the next level,” he said.
The new lights can be set at a range between 100 and 1000 lux. The lights are expected to exceed 500 lux no more than six times a year.
The new-look VFL season will officially get underway under lights at Skybus Stadium on 16 April. Frankston and Coburg face off in the season opener.
The practice match between Frankston and Northern Bullants starts at 7.30pm, Thursday 25 March.