Amid continual media stories regarding the future of North Melbourne, the club has confirmed is it a step closer to securing expansion of its Arden Street headquarters.
Architects are set to deliver new plans for a multi-storey extension, with Managing director and CEO Carl Dilena saying the club had already contacted Melbourne City Council prior to its submission of expansion plans.
"We have a workshop with the architects on Thursday to go through their first set of drawings," Dilena said.
"From there, we will refine them and then finalise them before submitting to council for approval."
Aside from expanding the precinct, the Arden Street ground itself would undergo major renovations with the club committing to a standalone VFL team from next season, as well as the desire to secure an AFLW license.
"This would include new interchange benches on the oval, improved lighting, coaches boxes and a scoreboard," Dilena said.
North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell had previously urged the AFL to stage home and away games at the club's spiritual home in the future following a successful game in this season's JLT Community Series.
“I’ve thought about and dreamt about playing footy at Arden Street,” Ziebell told Foxfooty.com.au.
“It would be awesome to play a home and away game there.”
Delina elaborated on the added facilities that would be available at the redeveloped headquarters.
"As far as the facility is concerned, it means brand new change rooms for the women's team, added office space for the coaches and support staff and the possibility of a rooftop function area to entertain our supporters and watch games."
"We are thinking big, and we are thinking years and years ahead to ensure our club and players continue to have state-of-the-art facilities and resources," Dilena said.
North's concept that was sent to the Victorian Planning Authority included an indoor pool, an outdoor synthetic oval and two indoor centres (one with a synthetic oval and another with four multi-use courts).
"We see the extension slab as stage-one of a multi-stage process, but we need to move quickly to ensure construction can be completed in time for the introduction of our AFLW team in 2019."
