Richmond Football Club has welcomed the opportunity to participate in the establishment of a Major Stadia and Arena Strategy being developed by the State Government.

Minister for Sport John Eren announced on Wednesday that submissions from sports and stadium industry experts, major event organisers and national sports organisations would be sought as a blueprint is developed for Melbourne.

“We want Richmond Football Club to have a voice during the development of this strategy,” Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said today.

“As always, it is important we continue to invest in the Punt Road Oval precinct to ensure we give ourselves the best chance of on-field success. But beyond that, this facility has the capacity to be an even more significant asset for the broader community than it already is.”

The Richmond Football Club facility is already home to the Korin Gamadji Institute, which works with Indigenous youth, and the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School. It hosts VFL games as well as numerous community and other football events each year.

“This is an iconic location in the heart of the greatest sporting precinct in the world. It would be an opportunity lost not to consider how this venue can play a more significant role in this city’s stadia landscape and in doing so, provide a great asset for all,” Gale said.

“The continued evolution and development of the Punt Road Oval precinct is a strategic focus of the Board and we look forward to sharing those plans with the State Government, and our members and supporters, in due course.”

A Ministerial Working Group chaired by Premier Daniel Andrews will develop the strategy by next year.