WESTERN Bulldogs president David Smorgon says the $26 million redevelopment of the club's Whitten Oval base has established the Bulldogs in Melbourne "forever".
The club has launched the first stage of the redevelopment, the Elite Learning Centre, which houses a new gymnasium and other player training facilities, which have been in use for several months.
Smorgon said few could have envisaged such an "incredible, modern" facility would have been built at what was an "outdated, dilapidated" ground when the club last played a home game there in 1997.
He said there were many scoffers when the redevelopment was first proposed, given the Bulldogs' financial struggles in the past.
"For decades people wanted to merge or relocate us or fold us," Smorgon said.
"Well, not any more, we're here to stay.
"We're here to stay as we've always stood, representing the western region of Melbourne.
"This redevelopment once and for all firmly establishes that we will be here forever."
Smorgon said it was a day for every person who had contributed to the club during its history to take pride in.
"It's just so important for everyone that has followed the Bulldogs, because it's a dream come true," he said.
"We've labelled it the miracle of the west and we say that very deliberately, because until it started going up there were the sceptics ... that never believed this was possible out at Whitten Oval.
"To see the first stage of a $26 million development gives us all immense pride and delight at what's happened and it's a credit to everyone that's been involved in the past."
